CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental – At least 56 NPA personalities and supporters, along with others in their communities, have joined the Pulong-pulong and Indignation Rally conducted at Brgy. Ili-ilihon, Salay and at Sitio Curnao, Brgy Umagos, Lagonglong from November 16 to 17, 2021.
The activity was initiated by the respective Local Government Units of Salay and Lagonglong, in collaboration with the 58th Infantry Dimalulupig Battalion and the 1001st RMFB, to signify their people’s official surrender to the folds of the law and withdrawal of support for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
The mass withdrawal of support from the NPA personalities is the result of the 58IB’s deployment of the Mobile Community Support Sustainment to Sitio Curnao, Sitio Dagalas, Sitio Tangoban, and Sitio Roa-Roa of Barangay Umagos, Lagonglong, and Barangay Ili-ilihon of Salay.
Months of deployment in the aforementioned areas have finally yielded positive results, as 56 NPA personalities, two of whom were lie-low NPA members, 11 Milisyang Bayan members, and 43 were members of Sangay sa Partido Lokalidad (SPL) have surrendered and withdrawn their support from Pambansang Kilusang Magbubukid (PKM) of the National Democratic Front (NDF) under the supervision of Lumpong 3, Platoon Cherry Mobile, GF Huawei, Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
These CTG personalities withdrew their support and pledged allegiance to the government and signed the signature campaign against CTG’s in their Sitios. The mass base supporters also burned flags of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Desiree Lindahay, a former rebel, testified, emphasizing the importance of not supporting the CTGs and urging them to abandon the armed group and instead support the true government. “Ihunong na ang pagsuporta sa NPA aron mahunong na ang problema diri sa inyong sitio. Kabalo ko mao nay isa gihapon ka problema ninyo diri ang sige nilang pagpangikil, nagpasabot na dili na gyud ninyo gusto sudlunon diri. Karon kung ang inyong suporta nagpabilin, muusab gyud na sila diri, pirme gyud na sila makasulod kung anaa gihapon ang inyong pag suporta. Panahon na suguon mo, ayaw na gyud mu ug sugot. Ngano man? Balik balikon nako, wala man mo gitabangan. Gitabangan ra mo sa pagdugang sa inyong problema.”
Further, she left a message for the youth and parents present, citing the capture of Mosong and Maya as an example. “Ayaw na mo paminaw sa mga propaganda sa inyo. Kana si Maya ug si Mosong, mao kana sila ang mga number 1 na mangingilad sa kabatan-unan, sa ginikanan ug interong mga tao ug kana mao na silang nangadakpan na nangabalhug sa prisuhan. Ngano man? Wala man na sila nisurender, nadakpan man na sila sa atong kasundaluhan. Mao nang nahitabo sa ilaha. Usbon ko, ayaw na mo pagpailad. Huna-hunaa ug tarong ang inyong kaugmaon. Sa rebolusyon, wala gyud gihapoy maayong ugma. Para pud sa mga aduna pay myembro na aktibong NPA, nag hangyo mi sa inyo, atimana ang kaluwasan sa inyong mga paryenteng tua pa sa bukid. Dili lalim ang kakapoy, kagutom, kauhaw na ilang gibati. Labi na ang walay kasiguraduan kung sila buhi pa bang makauli kaninyo o patayng lawas na lang nila ang inyong makita. Awhaga sila na mag surrender na ug magbalik na sa sabakan sa gobyerno.”
Lt. Col. Ricky L Canatoy, Commanding Officer of 58IB said, “This activity aims to empower the community to have united and firm stand not to support the NPAs including any of its organizations and instead shift their support to the government.”
“Some of them are NPA surrenderers, while the majority are supporters who have previously served in roles such as couriers and mass supporters to assist the CTGs.” And these people were not coerced into submitting to the Army. They chose to peacefully surrender and cooperated with this unit in providing vital information to operations, with the goal of incapacitating the remaining remnants of CTGs, as they were also tired and fed up with the CTGs’ threatful exploitation, which sometimes led them to have no choice but to submit.”
“The capture of Mosong and Maya also played a significant role in this shift in support. Taking down the leadership clearly shattered their group’s direction, and this has demoralized and weakened their will to pursue the armed revolution. Many of them have become disheartened.” Lt. Col Canatoy ended.
The PNP counterparts, Local Government Units, Provincial Agriculture Office, and other government agencies were also in attendance and gave assurance of their future commitments as the formalization of their withdrawal of support, will yield livelihood support and other appropriate interventions for the development of their sitios and improvement of their lives and as a community in general.
