CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division is fulfilling its promise to the leaders and members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) or the CPP-NPA-NDF that the AFP will help them get vaccinated once they decide to return to the peaceful path and cooperate with the government.
In coordination with Local Government Units, 4ID’s line Battalions facilitated the vaccination of former CPP-NPA-NDF members and leaders in respective AORs as promised by Major General Romeo S Brawner Jr, Commander of the 4ID, upon learning that some of the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) tested positive of COVID-19 after they were captured during the Bukidnon clashes.
It can be recalled that seven (7) out of 14 captured CNTs were tested and found positive of COVID-19 including one (1) of the four (4) killed CNTs after the clashes in Bukidnon province last September 8 and 10, 2021. Also found COVID-19 positive is Adelaida “Loida” Magpatok alias Gwen/Emyang/Kudaw/Robby, former Secretary of FMSR, one of the terrorist group’s consultants, and CPP-NPA-NDF Central Committee member, who was arrested in a joint AFP-PNP operation in Quezon, Bukidnon on September 15, 2021. COVID-19 virus infections is believed to be widespread within the ranks of the CTG in the AOR.
On September 16, 2021, the 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB), in coordination with the LGU of Maramag, Bukidnon, have facilitated the vaccination of 11 former rebels (FRs) and 6 of their dependents with Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. The 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) in partnership with the LGU of Claveria in Misamis Oriental also facilitated the vaccination of 15 FRs from different units of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) with Moderna and Sinovac vaccines.
Moreover, the 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) based in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur also facilitated the vaccination of 7 FRs from GF8, GF19 and SRDG of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) with Sinovac vaccines on September 15, 2021. The 23rd Infantry Battalion in Buenavista, Agsuan del Norte have also facilitated the vaccination of 6 FRs and 4 of their dependents on same day.
In addition, Jimwel Azcaraz Salazar, alias Zian/Ben Tuko, was also vaccinated for his 1st Dose with Sinovac on September 17, 2021. He was the Commanding Officer of Sub Regional Sentro De Gravidad (SRSDG) Westland of NEMRC.
In his statement, MGen Brawner Jr said that 4ID is serious in offering for the vaccination CTG members and leaders. He said that many FRs have signified their intention to get vaccinated as they also believe in the danger of the COVID19 virus.
“True to our promise, we have since coordinated with LGU health offices to accommodate CTG members and leaders for vaccination. The personnel of 4ID were allotted of more than 20,000 doses of various vaccines which are provided thru the LGUs where our line units are currently located, and these can be shared to the members of CPP-NPA-NDF who will lay down their arms and choose to be safe against the COVID19 virus”, MGen Brawner Jr said.
“We reiterate our willingness to share to the CTG members the vaccines intended for our soldiers. We ensure them that we will give them proper medical attention and get them vaccinated once they return to the folds of the law. Let this pandemic become a blessing in disguise where we can unite and begin the phase of totally ending the insurgency problem and thread the path of peace and development”, MGen Brawner Jr added.
