NPA rebs give up guns on Yuletide season

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

CASTILLA, Sorsogon --- To live a peaceful life, 11 members of the New People’s Army gave up their guns to celebrate the Christmas season with their families.

Army Brig. Gen. Aldwine I. Almase, commander of the Army’s 903rd Infantry (PATRIOT) Brigade Headquarters located in San Rafael village, Castilla, Sorsogon said that 11 regular members of the NPA returned to the fold of law to be with their families and mainstream.

Almase said that the 11 rebels surrendered on December 25, 2022, at 10:00 o’clock in the morning where they also handed over firearms. He said that the majority of the surrenderers’ reason for abandoning the communist movement is the hardship, abuse of their leaders and of being away from their families.

Bringing along with them are the following: seven assorted firearms: one Carbine Cal. 30; one SMG 9mm, KG9; one SMGUZI 9mm Ingram; three Cal 45 pistol; and one Cal. 38 pistol. The surrenderers received cash assistance from the office of Congressman Fortes and food packs from 903rdInfantry Brigade.

As part of the E-CLIP program, they will also be granted assistance, such as housing, livelihood, educational, and medical program benefits and among others, from the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC).

“We are grateful and lauded the move of 11 rebel surrenderers for their eagerness and courage in returning back to the folds of the law to be with their families in this Yuletide Season. We are also encouraging the remaining rebels to give up the armed struggle and return to the fold of law,” Almase said.

“Nananawagan po kami saating mga kapatid na nasa armadong grupo pa rin na isuko na ang inyong mgaarmas upang mamuhay ng mapayapa at makabuluhan kasama ng inyong mga mahal sabuhay lalo na ngayong Kapaskuhan at Bagong Taon”, Almase said.

It can be recalled that on October 27, 2022, at least 21 former rebels were also presented before the headquarters of the same Brigade.

The continuous security operations in the area of 903rd Brigade, the record of mass surrender this year, and the recent demise of Joma Sison are factors of high probability for another snowball of surrenders this coming year, the military official said.