PAGADIAN
CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (March 29, 2019) – Three NPA Militia ng Bayan members surrendered to the
Army’s 51st Infantry Battalion and 5th Infantry Battalion in Iligan City 2:30
p.m. Thursday, March 28, 2019, military official disclosed.
“Our initial custodial
debriefing found out that they were frustrated with the NPAs who continuously
threatened their communities in Rogongon, a hinterland barangay in Iligan City”,
said Lt. Col. Jasper Edward Obar, 51st Infantry Battalion Commander.
“Sa singkwenta nila ka
tuig na pakig-bisog sa gobyerno, puro gubot ug walay maayong resulta nga
naangkon. Kaming mga sibilyan ang ala-ot ug, way paglambo nga natagamtaman sa
among yutang natawhan”, ingon ni alias Eldan.
(“For
50 years of armed struggle against the government, turmoil and disarray have
been recorded. The civilians became victims. No progress has been felt in our
communities”, said Eldan)
The three also yielded
one M1 Garrand rifle, one shotgun, one caliber .22 rifle, one hand grenade,
magazines and ammunitions.
“The influx of NPA and
militia surrenders in Iligan City is a testament of their desire to unite and
live peacefully with their families. We expect that more NPAs and militias will
return to the folds of the law in the coming days as our troops on the ground
received a lot of surrender feelers,” says Brig. Gen. Ezra James Enriquez, 2nd
Mechanized Brigade Commander.
“Likewise, we urge the
NPA leadership in our area of operation to engage us thru localized peace talks
to address their issues and problems peacefully”, Enriquez added.
Meanwhile, Brigadier
General Roberto Ancan, the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan
(Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of
the troops that led to the surrender of the three NPA militias.
“We call on the
remaining NPAs to return to the folds of the law and avail the government’s
E-CLIP that would give them the opportunity to start a new life and live
peacefully as productive citizens of the country together with their families,”
Ancan added. (By JONG CAION with DPAO PR
and photos)
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