CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte – Four members of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) voluntarily surrendered along with their firearms to 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion with the joint effort of Butuan City Police Station 4 and Cabadbaran City Police Station yesterday, June 21, 2023.
The surrenderees were identified as alias Juday, armed member of Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabedad, Westland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command, alias Gabriel, armed member of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 21C, Weakened Guerilla Front21, Sub Regional Committee, Westland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, both residence of Brgy Anticala, Butuan City and a certain alias Bords a resident of Brgy Bitaogan, San Miguel, Surigao Del Sur and an armed member of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 21C, Weakened Guerilla Front21, Sub Regional Committee, Westland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command. Likewise, a certain alias JR, armed member of Sentro De Grabedad 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
After the recent encounter that resulted to the death of their top cadres and recovery of their firearms, fearing for their lives they realized that they will have the same fate like their comrades who died and was abandoned.
One of the surrenderees alias JR stated that “nahigmata nami sa kamatuoran nga mali ang among gitoohan nga ideolohiya. Nga giilad ra mi ug gigamit sa walang pulos nga kawsa.” (We already realized that the ideology we believe in is wrong. That we were deceived and used for a useless cause.”)
LtCol Cresencio C Gargar, Commander 29IB expressed his heartfelt gratitude and call to those remaining members “Dako kaayo akong kalipay nga ninaog ug nakadesisyon mo nga mubalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno aron makahigayon mo nga mabag-o ang inyong kinabuhi uban sa inyong pamilya. Sa mga nabilin dinha sa taas kahibalo ko nga gipangkapoy namo ug gigutom dinha busa paminawa ninyo among panawagan ug magsurrender na. Dakong abli ang among kampo, andam mudawat kaninyo bisan unsang orasa. Buhing saksi inyong mga kaubanan karon nga mabag-o ilang kinabuhi ug mahatagan ug tyansa ang gobyerno nga matabangan sila.” (I am glad that you came down and decided to return to the folds of the government so that you can have a chance to change your life with your family. For those who are left up there, I know that you are tired and hungry, so please listen to our call and surrender. Our camp is wide open, ready to receive you at any time. Your colleagues are the living witnesses now that their lives will change and the government will be given a chance to help them.)
