IMPASUGONG, BUKIDNON – Government troops have retrieved a decaying corpse of NPA member, on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, following a massive focused military operations in the hinterlands of Sitio Kilap-agan, Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
The troops from the 8th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army were able to retrieve the decaying dead body, identified as “Prodo” (true name: unknown), a Communist-Terrorist Group (CTG) member, through the revelation of a certain Reb and two (2) others who recently surrendered to this Battalion.
As revealed by the former rebels, Prodo was hit on his lower abdomen during an encounter on March 3, 2022 between the government forces against the CTGs in Sitio Kilap-agan, Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The cadaver was eventually left behind in the area while the NPAs were on the run for withdrawal.
Meanwhile, six (6) more red fighters in Malaybalay joined the growing list of communist NPA terrosists defectors who chose to return to the folds of the law, following the mentioned encounter between the NPA and government forces. As revealed, the former rebels experienced hardships and hunger prompting them to surrender to live a normal and peaceful life.
Three (3) of these surrenderees were CTG Team Leaders; two (2) were CTG Medics; and one (1) used to be the CTG Squad Leader that operates around the area of 8th Infantry Battalion.
Lt. Col. Anthony A Bacus has welcomed the six (6) rebel returnees on March 15 and assured them to receive appropriate benefits that are due to them under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP). On the contrary, the Commanding Officer was also saddened by the demise of Prodo who was left alone by his comrades to his death.
“Subo kaayo pamalandungon nga gipasagdan sa walhon nga grupo ang namatay nga lawas sa ilang kauban, apan ang atong gobyerno nagkahiusa aron tagaan ug disente nga kapahulayan, isip usa ka igsoon nga Pilipino.” (It is sad to note that the NPA left their dead comrade, however, our government jointly provided decent services towards his final destination, Lt. Col. Bacus said.)
Brigade Commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Ferdinand T. Barandon said their decision to concede to the government is a response to the call of the President for the remnants of the rebel group to surrender through the Executive Order No. 70 which is currently being implemented by the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Confilct (PTF-ELCAC) of the province of Bukidnon.
Iniexpect po natin na marami pang mga NPA leaders and members na bababa sa panawagan ng ating pangulo na bumalik na sa kapangyahiran ng ating batas.” (“We expect that more NPA leaders and members will heed the call of the president to return to the folds of the government,” Brig. Gen. Barandon said.”)
