Davao Occidental: It was April Fool’s day, but it was the happiest day for the former rebel couple alias Bruno and alias Clara who were reunited with their nine-month-old son.
In March 11, 2020, the couple surrendered to the 73rd Infantry Battalion, where they brought with them two (2) M16 rifle, one caliber .45, and one commercial radio.
Accordingly, they were tired of hiding from the government troops conducting combat operations in their area.
They also decided to return to the folds of the law so that they will be able to see and take care of their son.
Due to this security reason and dictate of the communist terrorist leadership, the couple was forced to leave their newborn child to alias Cheche, who then gave the child to the communist terrorist contact in the low lands.
Immediately after their surrender, the 73IB under commanding officer Lt. Col. Ronaldo G. Valdez, and CMO Section under 1st Lt. Jessie P. Hinampas arranged for the reunification of the family.
Negotiations were made to finally convince the family who took care of the child to let go so that the latter will be reunited with his birth parents.
According to Bruno and Clara, they will never allow any other person to get their child away from them. They denounced the communist terrorist for their deceptive scheme in convincing them to let go of their child so that they can perform their task and fight for a failed communist ideology.
Bruno further added that he knew other communist terrorist couples who were also deceived into giving away their children for the terrorist cause.
He vowed to help other couples to get their children back by convincing them to surrender and to return to the folds of the law.
Lt. Col. Valdez said that the 73IB is fortunate to serve as a bridge to reunite a family that the communist terrorists have been destroying.
Bruno and Clara were the third couple who surrendered to the 73IB since January this year. The two other couples are staying at the battalion’s Bahay Kalinga. (73rd IB)