CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – The Commander of the 4th Infantry Division has offered COVID-19 Vaccines to the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) after learning that some of the captured and killed CTG members during the armed clashes in San Fernando and Valencia City in Bukidnon are COVID-19 positive as a result of the tests conducted.
Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., the Commander of 4ID, disclosed that out of the 10 CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) who were captured in the San Fernando clash, 3 CNTs including 1 minor were found to be COVID-19 positive while 1 of the dead CNTs turns out also to be COVID-19 positive. In the Valencia City clash, 3 captured CNTs including 2 minors also tested positive.
“Many in the NPA ranks possibly have COVID-19 as evidenced by the positive test results of the captured and dead CNTs. Nais ko pong ipaalam sa kanila na wala pong pinipili ang COVID-19, sundalo, kapulisan, mga kawani, simpleng mamamayan at maging mga myembro ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay tinatablan din ng nakakamatay na COVID-19. We are willing to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the CTG if they will decide to abandon the armed struggle and cooperate with us”, MGen. Brawner Jr. said.
The captured CNTs in San Fernando clash who tested positive during the RTCPR test were identified as alias Taburok, minor; alias Manman; and alias Daniel; while still for testing is alias Jillian, 1 of the 4 killed CNTs. On the other hand, the captured CNTs in the Valencia City clash identified as alias Anjie and minor’s alias Jayson and RK are also COVID-19 positive. Significantly, alias Kib, who was wounded, is Delta variant COVID-19 positive and already underwent surgical operation yesterday.
Moreover, the CNTs killed during the said clashes were immediately buried upon learning that some of them have tested positive of COVID-19.
Maj. Gen. Brawner Jr. appealed to the CTG leadership to abandon the armed struggle and stressed that the country is currently facing an unseen enemy that is even more serious and deadly where it exempts no one, the COVID-19 virus.
“I am personally appealing to Jorge Madlos alias Ka Oris and his group to return to the peaceful path now and go down from the mountains so that they can be given vaccines and proper medical attention. Secretary Carlito Galvez of OPAPP has promised that even members of the CTG will be provided with vaccines to demonstrate the government’s sincerity in calling for reconciliation amidst this pandemic that significantly changed our way of life”, Maj. Gen. Brawner Jr. ensured.
“Personal kong ring hinihikayat ang iba pang mga kapatid natin na myembro ng New People’s Army na tuluyan ng bumaba at iwan ang hindi ligtas na kalagayan at maling pakikibaka sa panahon ng pandemya. Ang inyung kasundaluhan ay nangangako na kayo ay mababakunahan kasabay ng pagbabagong buhay na may panatag at ligtas na pamumuhay. As we still await the additional vaccines, the AFP are most willing to share to the CNTs the vaccines intended for our soldiers”, Maj. Gen. Brawner Jr. added.
