- GILBERT BAYORAN
Twenty-four members of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros Central Negros 2 surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion in Brgy. Tambo, Ayungon, Negros Oriental, and turned over eight assorted guns and explosives.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, said that the 24 rebels were active members of the New People’s Army.
They turned over to the Army three rifle grenades, a fragmentation grenade, four caliber 38 revolvers, two homemade shotguns, an Armscor 12 gauge shotgun, and a caliber 22 revolver.
The surrender of the 24 rebels was a joint effort of the 94IB, the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Force Company, and other Army intelligence units.
Almonte said that two of those who surrendered were also victims of sexual harassment and were abandoned by their comrades several times, when they got sick.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the decision of the 24 rebels to abandon the armed struggle, and he challenged them to help spread the information that the government is serious in giving those who surrender a second chance.
Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, also said that the surrender of the 24 rebels is a clear manifestation that the morale of the communist terrorist group is low and their ranks are crumbling, as most of their fighters have chosen to yield and to reunite with their families.
Almonte said that the 24 are now being secured by the 94IB, for debriefing, prior to their enrolment to the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
On the other hand, the 25 former rebels, who recently surrendered to the 94IB, already received P10,000 each in financial assistance as well as educational aid, on Nov. 11, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office in Brgy. 1, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental./GB
