By JONG
CADION
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PAGADIAN
CITY (Aug. 2, 2019) –
Six armed members of the New People’s Army surrender to authorities in
Zamboanga del Sur on Friday, weeks after the province declared the communist
group as ‘persona non grata’
Jesrel
Jess Himang, provincial Information Officer disclosed that the rebels led by a
certain Ka Diego were operating in the hinterlands of Brgy. Lison Valley, this
city.
Ka
Diego, 30, has been with the communist group for three years while the rest are
at least 3 months. The youngest surrenderee is 17 years old, Himang said.
Barangay
Chairman Joel Babayson said that he assisted in echoing the plea of the
surrenderees to the government which compelled them to go down from the
mountains.
During
a courtesy meeting, the six surrenderees formally pledged their comeback to the
government in front of Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor Yu, 1st District Congw.
Divina Grace Yu, 2nd District Cong. Leonardo Babasa and Board Member John
Regala.
Lt Col
Marlowe Patria, Battalion Commander of the 53rd IB, said the surrender of Ka
Diego and his companions is a product of the fruitful information dissemination
that encourages CNT members to return to the government.
He said
that while they conduct regular patrolling in the villages to ensure continuity
of the infrastructure projects, the pressure is felt by the rebels since the
military are present in the area.
“The
‘good news’ about the benefits and privileges of returning to the government
reaches them so rather than resisting to our forces, they realize that they
have an option and that enables them to easily decide to go down from the
hinterlands and return to their normal lives with their families,” Patria
hinted.
On the
other hand, Governor Victor Yu was happy to see the surrenderees back to the
government. He said that their surrender is a sort of trust to the government
and a proof to them that change has happened.
The
governor explained that insurgency is one factor that deters the development of
the province.
“We
need peace. That is why I am happy to see them. Later they will realize that
our government is looking after their welfare especially that the call of
President Duterte is to eradicate insurgency,” Yu said.
He also
emphasized that the government in coordination with other national agencies
have laid down programs so these people can realize that we are stretching our
hand for their common good.
Meanwhile,
Board Member John Regala, Chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, considered the surrendering of the rebels as a
showcase where they can differentiate the group that they previously joined
with and the group who received them.
“Let’s
make them an instrument that will inform their co-CNT members who are still in
their camps to go back to the government,” Regala said.
The
board member also explained why we declare the CNT’s as ‘persona non grata’ in
the province.
“We don’t want that there will be someone or
something detrimental that can affect our system of government. We all desire
for a peaceful province and beyond the peace and order that we can experience,
progress and prosperity will follow not just in our community but also in our
administration. (With ZDSPPB PR, photos and video)
Testimony of Ka Diogo, rebel returnee
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