SAN JOSE CITY -Nine former members of the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) have returned to the fold of the government in ceremonies held at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Sto. Niño here on Tuesday.
Major Gen. Felimon Santos, Jr., commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, said the surrenderees who belonged to the NPA’s “militia ng bayan” who surrendered with 12 as sorted firearms.
They were operating in Carranglan town were nine of their comrades were killed in an encounter with soldiers in September last year, according to Santos.
While the surrenderees were present during the ceremonies, their names were not immediately disclosed, owing to their personal security and their families. Among the fi rearms surrendered were a shotgun, two US Springfield M1903 cal. 30, four improvised shot guns, two improvised cal.22, an improvised 5.56mm rifle and a cal. 38 revolver.
The surrenderees will received livelihood support under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Program (ECLIP) that carries P15,000 immediate assistance and an eventual P50,000 financial assistance and P2,000 to P20,000 for every firearm they surrendered, depending on its valuation.
Each one of them were given a couple of sheep, Santos said. He said their surrender left the NPA with only about 20 active armed guerillas in the province. These forces, he said, are moving from one place to another in this province.
“Pero ang hirap hanapin dahil ang lawak ng area. From Carranglan pupunta ng Pangasinan yan, tatawid ng Lupao babalik, tatawid ng Bongabon, at saka siyempre mahirap silang hanapin dahil may mga supporters pa rin hanggang ngayon,” Santos said.
He called on businessmen, particularly contractors, not to give in to the rebels’ demands. He said most demands come from extortion groups pretending to be rebels.
