Story Links: http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:new-year-message-of-gen-emmanuel-t-bautista-afp-chief-of-staff-afp&catid=8&Itemid=435
- Published: 10 January 2014
CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City –
Three members of the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA)
voluntarily surrendered to troops of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion
today in Bansalan, Davao del Sur bringing along three high-powered
firearms.
The surrenderees were active members of the NPA’s Front 51, SMRC operating in the areas of Davao del Sur and Makilala, North Cotabato. They brought along one M14 rifle and two M16 rifles.
On the other hand, the military sees the
surrender as an act of progress knowing that not all members of the
NPAs believe in their leaders’ hard-line stance on armed violence as
means to achieve their goals.
Their reasons for joining the Communist movement might have been legitimate ones but after almost two decades of armed struggle, they have not realized that joining a group which causes only violence against our people isn't the answer.
On its part, the AFP reiterates its call
to the NPAs who were misled to the violent path, to surrender and give
peace a chance and totally abandon the armed struggle. In this way, more
innocent civilians will be spared from their unlawful activities which
hamper our government’s ongoing efforts towards progress and development
for our nation.
Moreover, the military condemns the NPAs
for their continued recruitment of individuals who instead of
participating in violent activities could have been contributing in the
formation of a peaceful and prosperous society.
The rebels recently declared that it
will push for violence as they plan to conduct more offensives and
recruit 25,000 NPAs this year. In spite of this, the AFP will continue
to conduct focused military operations in its effort to uphold the
primacy of the peace process.
While the NPA continues to find
solutions through violence, the AFP on the other hand will continue to
find solutions through peace. This year, the AFP is all-out for peace
and development especially in NPA-influenced areas. The AFP will
strengthen its support to the government’s undertakings that will
address the root causes of insurgency and will bring the decades of
armed struggle to a responsible end.
AFP Websites
Links:
PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
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