MALITBOG, Bukidnon – After the recent wave of surrender last month, another two (2) CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) decided to embark on new beginnings as they voluntarily surrendered to 16th Infantry (Maglilingkod) Battalion, under the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, last June 20.
The returnees were identified as alias Logo, 31, and alias Princess, 29, who served as Platoon Guide and Medic, respectively.
Just like the other CNTs who returned to the folds of the law before them, they gave the same grounds for leaving the armed struggle.
Logo revealed the strains alongside hunger and extreme exhaustion inside the terrorist organization. He said, “Gipang ilad ra mi sa mga pagsaad-saad sa among mga lider sulod sa kalihukan. Gipahimuslan mi alang sa ilang sayop na pagtuo. Napamatuoran namo na ang mga kasundaluhan kay gibuhat lang ang ilang trabaho para makab-ot ang tinuod na kalinaw ug kalambuan.”
They are currently under the 65IB custody and undergoing interview. Moreover, the unit will facilitate the former rebels to avail the government’s reintegration program, the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Reintegration Program (E-CLIP).
The successive number of surrenderers is a testament of the intensified focused military operations of the ground troops complemented by several government peace initiatives and programs anchored on EO 70, the “whole of nation approach” to end local communist armed conflict.
With the relentless operations within its area of responsibility, the 16IB is once again calling all remaining CNTs to embrace peace by laying down their arms and leaving the armed struggle.
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