CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City –
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes thirty five former
New People’s Army (NPA) rebels including a minor who will formally
return to the government fold and join mainstream society through the
government’s Gun for Peace and Social Integration Program.
These surrenderees will receive
financial assistance from the Gun for Peace Program (GPP) of the Office
of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) with the
corresponding amount depending on the type of their firearms
surrendered.
GPP offers cash incentives to NPA
members who will surrender with their firearms to the government and
grab the big opportunity to start a new life away from the dangers of
the armed conflict. The amount of money varies from P2,000 – P10,000 for homemade firearms to P388,500 for heavy machine gun.
“We in the 4th Infantry Division are very much happy to welcome our brothers and sisters
who have finally decided to return to the folds of the law. We know
that they have been led a life full of hardships they endure while they
were still in the mountains fighting against their brother Filipinos. We
are very thankful to them that they give up their arms and start living
a normal life back to their loved ones and families,” Brig. Gen. Visaya
said
“We will encourage other members of the
rebels who are still in the movement to come down from the mountains,
lay down their arms and reunite with loved ones back into the mainstream
of our society because our government is truly working for the Filipino
people of which they are a part,” he added.
All of the 35 surrenderees were regular
members of the NPA rebels operating in the hinter areas of Caraga and
Region 10, composed of 17 individuals from Agusan del Sur, six from
Bukidnon, six from Surigao del Sur, three from Surigao del Norte, two
from Agusan del Norte and one from the province of Misamis Oriental.
The surrenderees brought along with them
31 assorted high powered firearms to include: AK 47’s, M14, M16A1,
Garand rifles, cal. 30 carbine and a Squad automatic weapon (SAW) and 8
low powered firearms to include SMG’s cal.45 pistols and a caliber 38
revolver.
The most high-ranking surrenderee,
Eleuterio Casal also known as Nolan is 58 years old and former Guerilla
Front-34 Secretary/Adviser, Field Guerilla Unit, Field Command 34,
Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. He said that he was tired and
wanted to join the mainstream society and start a new life. He also said
that life while in the NPA is very hard.
Like Casal, Roland Barrios, 25 years old
surrendered because of hardships while in the rebel group. He said he
did not gain anything beneficial from the NPA but hardships and
difficulties without proper remuneration contrary to what had been
promised to them. He also didn’t have the luxury of time to visit his
family when they badly needed him. In addition, Barrios and his fellow
surrenderees also want to avail of the GPP and Social Integration
Program of the OPAPP upon learning it through their former comrades who
benefited from the program.
Minors When Recruited
Of the surrenderees, 9 confessed to have
been recruited as minors by the NPA. Bernabe Domino was the youngest
when he was recruited by the rebels at eight years old. He eventually
stayed in the NPA for 13 years; he is now 21.
Gino Mansinogdanan was 15 years old when
he was recruited. He is still a minor at age 17. Other surrenderees
were Julie Licardo, 16 when recruited; Junrey Canudas, 17 when
recruited; Jimmy Ayog, 15 when recruited; Reynante Casal, 13 when
recruited; Rolando Fuentes, 16 when recruited; Digo Anti-an,13 when
recruited; and Fernando Balili Jr., 15 when recruited. All of them are
now adults and stayed in the NPA ranging from two to 24 years.
Recruiting minors has been a part of the
NPA’s desperate moves to increase their waning force. They have been
known to conduct recruitment from the youth sector as well as from
communities of indigenous people. This is why the AFP is paying extra
attention to these sectors in order to protect them from recruitment and
exploitation by various threat groups.
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Friday, November 1, 2013
35 Former NPA Rebels Return to Government Fold; 9 Confess They Were Minors When Recruited
