8 CPP-NPA-Terrorists yield to troops in Sultan Kudarat

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 3, 2018) - Exhausted in the Army’s relentless pursuit operations against the CPP-NPA-Terrorists (CNT), 8 insurgents finally decided to return to the folds of the law here on Friday, (February 02), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Romeo Dongco a.k.a. Taiwan, 29, was among the tribal members who seized a large swath of coffee plantation owned by Consunji family in September 2017.

“Datu Victor told us to cut the coffee trees so that we can retake our ancestral land. The land lease was extended without the tribe’s approval,” said Dongco, a resident of Sumilil village here.

Cpt Petinglay said Dongco’s neighbor and fellow Yunit Milisya member, Junjun Okom, 29, revealed that they were supported by the CNT’s Platoon Arabo in reclaiming the land.

“Ka Yoyo deployed his armed followers behind us. We were able to push the company guards away because we utilized spear-wielding children as our frontliners,” said Okom, who was joined by two telatives, NasioDungco, 28, and Binta Okom,50.

The other surrenderors are members of the defunct Platoon Cloudphone, namely: Batoy Tayak, 49, Goong Tugi, 47, Justin Tugi, 21, and a child warrior named Raffy Blah,16.

Meanwhile, three of the surrenderors have executed an affidavit linking a local government official to the CNT, Cpt Petinglay added.

“He facilitated the organization of the lumads as NPA fighters purposely to reclaim our ancestral lands. He welcomed Ka George and Ka Makmak in his house to recruit us in May 2015,”said one former NPA rebel.

The recent surrender was facilitated by Bagumbayan Mayor, Hon. Jonalette De Pedro and Police Chief Inspector Garyflor Marfil. More CNTs are expected to surrender due to the ongoing pursuit operations of the Army and 4th Special Action Battalion, SAF, PNP.

6ID Commander Maj Gen Arnel B. Dela Vega welcomes the former terrorists as they return to the fold of law. He indicated that if they are eligible, they may avail the CLIP of the government in order for them to start a new life and live peacefully with their families.

From January 1 to February 2, 2018, a total of 34 communist terrorists surrendered to the Joint Task Forces under the Western Mindanao Command.

Seven of them yielded in Maguindanao and 27 in Sultan Kudarat.

“We anticipate a surge in the number of communist terrorists who will surrender in the coming days as we focus in our all-out offensives against the insurgents in both Central and Western Mindanao,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the WestMinCom.

“This is the priority effort and thrust of our President and our Chief of Staff to crush the CPP-NPA-Terrorists as soon as possible time. Therefore all units are in full throttle in conducting focused military operations to completely the CPP-NPA threat in Western Mindanao.”

In line with the efforts of the DND and the DILG, the local government under Western Mindanao together with the DSWD also have programs intended for those who surrendered.

“Reintegration packages are being prepared for surrenderees that which include livelihood and capacity development trainings, all aimed at providing surrenderrees and their families social equity and a fair chance to be productive members of the society.”