BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – Two regular members of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorist (CNT) abandoned the rotten ideology of the movement and voluntarily surrendered to the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battion (23IB) last April 21, 2021. The surrender of the two CNT members were held at the unit’s headquarters in Jamboree Site, Purok 6, Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
The two CNT members are identified as Alias Daniel, 38, who surrendered one (1) AK-47 rifle, one (1) Magazine, and five (5) 7.62 live ammunitions and Alias Jojo, 26, who handed over one (1) M16 rifle, one (1) Magazine and five (5) 5.56mm live ammunition. They are both regular members of Sub-Section Guerrilla Unit (SSQGU), Headquarters Force (HQF) NEO, of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the CNT.
Alias Daniel said the difficult and tough situation inside the CNT movement encouraged him to leave and return to the fold of the law. He added that he longs to see his family, especially his children whom he left after joining the CNT movement.
“Naka desisyon ko nga mo balik na sa sabakan sa balaod kay dugay nako wala makaduaw sa akong pamilya ug mga anak. Isip usa ka amahan, dili ko mahimutang sa bukid tungod kay wala koy update kung unsa na ang kahimtang sa akong pamilya, labaw nakay nahibalo ko nga wala silay saktong kaon kay ako nga mao ang haligi sa panimalay wala na man nakahatag sa ilang mga nag-unang panginahaglanon, Alias Daniel said.
He added that CNT fighters are now experiencing hunger due to the scarcity of food and the lack of supply. The residents of communities, he said, no longer provide food and other support to the CNT.
“Dili sayon ang kahimtang namo sulod sa kalihukan. Halos mag sige nalang mi og ka pasmo kay maglisod mig pangayo sa mga kabalayan kay mahadlok mi nga ilang itug-an sa kasundaluhan ang among lokasyon kay wala na sila gadapig sa amo. Nakita usab nako nga dili ang pakigbisog sa gobyerno ang makaluwas kanamo gikan sa kalisod busa nga naningkamot gyod mi nga makasibat sa maong grupo nga dili mahibaw-an sa among mga kadagkuan kay kung mahibaw sila, sila pa mismo ang mupatay namo. Ako usab nadunggan nga ubay-ubay na sa mga kaubanan namo ang gitabangan sa gobyerno ug naka dawat ug klase-klasengmga ayuda nga maoy gigamit nila aron mabag-o ang ilang kinabuhi. Dili nako gusto sayangan ang maong oportunidad kay kabalo ko nga dili kana mahatag sa among mga lideres sa armadong kalihukan,” Alias Daniel said.
Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, Acting Commander of 23IB warmly welcomed Alias Daniel and Alias Jojo and assured them of government support through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
“We, your 23IB soldiers do not want war anymore. After many decades of fighting, we also long for peace because we do not want to see the result of the war which are destructions and loss of precious lives. We are glad that two more CNT members heed our call and we will assure them that we will assist them to be enrolled in E-CLIP. We will further coordinate with different agencies to provide countless assistance to the former rebels (FRs),” Paulo said.
He also hit the CNT leaders for giving their combatants false promises and the lack of support to their needs.
“Unlike the leaders of the CNT group who are always feeding their members with false promises, that they will be provided with better living, we will do our best to make them feel that the true and real government of the Philippines was the only one who fulfills its promises and most importantly, the only one who will selflessly help and serve those who are less fortunate and needy,” Paulo said.
He also called on the remaining members of the CNT to wake up and leave the unbearable hardships and hunger they experienced inside the communist movement.
“No matter how big the efforts you will exert serving your leaders in the armed movement, you will never feel the real victory. It will only be felt when you are already living peacefully with your family, and altogether help each other to achieve the dreams that you’ve made before,” Paulo said.
