by Meriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–A part-time member of the CPP-NPA, identified only as alias Athan, surrendered to the troops of the 63rd Infantry Battalion at sitio Bagti in Barangay Mabini of Basey, Samar on Sunday (August 27).
According to reports from the 8th Infantry Battalion (8ID) based in Catbalogan City, Athan also yielded his .38-caliber revolver, two improvised shotguns, two magazines of M16 armalite rifles, 37 rounew of ammunitions, a digital projector, medical equipment and 14 acupuncture needles.
In a separate incident that same day, residents of Barangay San Andres (Lower) in Borongan City, Eastern Samar divulged to the 78th Infantry Battalion (78th IB) about a site in the mountainous area of that barangay where firearms and bombs were buried.
Troops of the 78th IB immediately responded to the area where they dug up the following: an M16 armalite rifle, two banned anti-personnel landmines, and several documents deemed subversives.
Earlier on August 19, members of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s underground mass organizations (UGMOs) based in that barangay of Borongan, openly declared withdrawal of support for the terrorist groups and pledged instead allegiance to the government before City Mayor Jose Ivan Agda, chair of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTD-ELCAC).
Major General Camilo Ligayo, 8ID commander, issued a statement lauding the cooperation of the residents and the decision of the NPA members to help and work hand-in-hand with the government.
Ligayo also called on the public to support and be united with the government in advocating peace and implementing socio-economic development efforts.
“The insurgency problem is not a sole responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police but is shared by every member of the society. Let us actively support the programs of the local government to peacefully resolve the problem of insurgency. Let us encourage everybody to follow the path of peace. Let us condemn those who advocate violence and the use of arms,” Ligayo further said. —Meriam G. Desacada