Davao Oriental: Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has warmly welcomed the 42 members of the Communist New People’s Army who voluntarily surrendered to government troops amid intensified crackdown on insurgents who seized food packs from poor families who are recipients of the local government’s relief operations due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“Dako ang akong kalipay nga mibalik namo sa sabakan sa balaud. Og ako lang hangyo ngadto kaninyo, naa pa may inyong mga kauban nga anaa pa sa kalihukan, hibawo man ko nga anaa pa moy kontak diha nila, palihog lang tawagi sila o itext og sultihi sila sa inyong kahimtang sa inyong pag surrender, og hangyoa sila nga maghiusa na kita arun walay nay kagubot og mamahimong malinawon na ang atong probinsya og atong angkonon ang paglambo sa atong mga komunidad” says Governor Dayanghirang during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 701st Brigade in the City of Mati.
During the ceremony, each of the 42 surrendering rebels received cash assistance from the Governor and the Department of Social Welfare and Development: ₱ 7,000 from Governor Dayanghirang, and ₱ 6,000 from the DSWD. They also received food packs from the 10th Infantry Division Multi-Sector Advisory and Action Group (MSAAG).
Governor Dayanghirang says the former rebels “are now given the best chance in life, a better life especially for their beloved families. As they choose the road to peace, they can now pursue their grandest dreams in life. This government program will give them the hope of prosperity and abundance, the hope that someday they will become the captains of their fate and builders of our future. The mass surrender of the NPA rebels is a big boost to our commitment to the goal of peace, the price the government is willing to pay for peace and human development in our time.”
During the ceremonial distribution of financial aid which was attended by the top brass of the Philippine Army in Mindanao and local government officials here, the governor says personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development had a hard time in distributing food packs to the communities because of the presence of the rebels.
“Maglisud intawon ang atong mga personahe sa DSWD sa pag deliver sa mga hinabang ngadto sa mga komunidad tungod kay una, og naa ang mga rebelding NPA, anaa ang kabalaka og kahadlok, mao nga malangan. Ang nasakrepisyo mao ang atong mga pobreng kaigsoonan nga unta ila ng madawat og ila ng magamit ang hinabang sa gobyerno tungod sa kalisdanan nga atong nasinati sa kasamtangan tungod aning COVID 19,” says Governor Dayanghirang.
However, the commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry “Agila” Division, Major General Reuben Basiao, who also graced the ceremony, heaped praises on the “exemplary leadership” of Governor Dayanghirang that inspired many rebels to surrender to the government.
He cited the recent surrender on May 3 this month of a top ranking leader of the NPA in the Davao region named Jekols. “To the former rebels, now you know that what your leaders have told you are all lies. No one among you here were being mistreated by government troops upon your surrender. In fact, you are living a good life now,” says Major General Basiao, debunking claims by the rebel group that surrendering rebels were either maltreated or killed by soldiers. Basiao also thanked Governor Dayanghirang for his “all-out support” in the operation of the Happy Home in the province which he called “the only functional Happy Home that must be replicated in other areas of the country.”By Ferdinand Zuasola/Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
