59 ka mga katapo sang NPA kag Militia ng Bayan nagbalik sa sabak sang gobyerno.
Yari ang Press Statement sang 61st Infantry Hunter Battalion kasunod sang pagsungka sang masobra 50 ka NPA kag Militia ng Bayan members sa banwa sang Cuartero.
NPA MEMBERS SURRENDER IN CUARTERO, CAPIZ
CUARTERO,Capiz – Members of the New People’s Army together with their members of the Militia ng Bayan under East Front Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay voluntarily surrendered to the Local Government of Cuartero, Capiz and 61st Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army at Brgy Poblacion, Cuartero, Capiz this morning 9:00 am October 22, 2018 (Monday).
There are a total of seven (7) NPA regular members and 52 Militia ng Bayan (MB) members who voluntary surrendered bringing along with them the following high powered and low powered firearms; one (1) US M1 Garrand rifle, one (1) US calibre .45 pistol, ten (10) locally made shotguns, two (2) calibre .38 pistols, one (1) hand grenade and various live ammunition.
The said surrender is the result of the relentless efforts of the 61st Infantry Battalion and with the assistance of the LGU Cuartero particularly the Barangay Officials of Brgy Putian, Cuartero, Capiz.
The Militia ng Bayan, (MB) is a force multiplier or sometimes act as part time NPA armed members. They support the regular NPA members by providing them additional manpower, information, food and other logistics.
A certain alyas “Bong-Bong”, former Militia ng Bayan (MB) member said that “The reason we surrendered is because we are already tired of fighting the government forces. We experienced starvation due to the continuous combat operations conducted by the Joint AFP-PNP forces in the area and realized the false promises of the CPP-NPA, that is why we decided to return to the folds of the law.”
COL BENEDICT M AREVALO, Brigade Commander, 301st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army said “We acknowledge the important efforts of the local chief executives in leading the campaign in anti-insurgency in their community by encouraging NPAs to surrender. We encourage the other members of the NPA to surrender and live a peaceful life. And for those who still choose to fight, we will hunt them and use the full force of the law and our military might to neutralize or capture them”.
The Philippine Army and the Local Government Units will ensure that all benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) will be given to the NPA members who surrendered in order to help them have a normal and peaceful life”, Colonel Arevalo added.
Relatedly, for those who want to surrender and for any information on NPA’s movements and extortion activities call or text the 301st Infantry Brigade hotline numbers, 0928-175-7208 and 0916-766-3740.
