A total of 185 members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap in Bulacan voluntarily surrender to government peacekeeping forces. (7th Infantry Division)
MALOLOS CITY — A total of 185 members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Bulacan voluntarily surrendered to government peacekeeping forces.
The surrenderees, who submitted themselves to the Army 48th Infantry Battalion (48IB) and Bulacan Police Provincial Office (BPPO), came from different resettlement areas of Pandi town who forcibly occupied units of the National Housing Authority in March 2017.
They also turned over six firearms that include one Garand rifle, one caliber .45 pistol with one magazine, three caliber .38 pistol and one Ingram pistol as well as several subversive reading materials.
Governor Daniel Fernando commended the efforts of 48IB led by Lieutenant Colonel Felix Emeterio M. Valdez and Pandi Municipal Police Station led by Police Major Joy Placido.
Fernando initially distributed gift packs to the surrenderees and promised to provide them with livelihood, scholarship and health grants.
Valdez, for his part, assured the former Kadamay members of 48IB’s continued support.
“We at the 48IB, together with other government agencies, will continue to be your instrument of change as you choose to embrace and support the government for internal peace and development,” he said.
In a statement, 7thInfantry Division Commander Major General Lenard T. Agustin lauded the 48IB and BPPO for delivering a new milestone in the government’s fight against insurgency.
“The sudden increase in the number of surrenderees in Central Luzon, particularly in the province of Bulacan, is a clear manifestation of the success in our campaign to end local communist armed conflict,” Agustin affirmed. – PIA 3
