Camp Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet – Three former members of the New Peoples Army surrendered Monday to the Police Regional Office (PRO-COR) in La Trinidad Benguet.
Police officials said that the three rebels were members of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG)-Baggas and Ampis.
Among them was Ka “Jimmy”, who was recruited and indoctrinated at the age of 12 in 2012 by the Communist Front and serve the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG)-Baggas. He was trained on explosives and underwent NPA Advance Training Course and later exposed to various battlefield.
“Ka Alice” a female rebel returnee who was then 20 years old when she was enticed to join the Mountain Province Youth Alliance in 2018. Later, she was indoctrinated to join the NPA movement and served as Assistance Medic and Logistic Officer of the NPA. She dreamed of becoming a police officer, however, that dream went down the drain when she joined the NPA-KLG (Kilusang Larangang Gerilya) Ampis that operates in Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur and Abra.
Another was “Ka Benjie” as a political instructor of KLG MARCO operating in Mt Province and Kalinga, particularly in Sagada, Bontoc and Tinglayan, his function is to entice young people in the far-flung communities who do not attend school to join the NPA to get free education.
Aside from the physical surrender, the former NPA rebels also gave up two units of M1 US Caliber 30 carbine rifles.
“They will be processed under the enhanced comprehensive local re-integration program of the government so that they can avail of the benefits provided by the government to those who return to the folds of the law.” PBGen. R’Win Pagkalinawan, Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCOR) Regional Director said.
Pagkalinawan added that once processed, they will receive remuneration for the firearms they surrendered and will be entitled to cash assistance, livelihood assistance and even housing as well as educational assistance.
“The government can help them regain their lost future by starting over without the possibility of being on the frontline fighting against the government for a lost cause. Following their surrender is a chance to live a peaceful life and improvement of themselves for their future,” The General said.
The three NPA surrenders are among the several others who have decided to return to the fold of the law in exchange for a future and peaceful life that the terrorist organization cannot give. (Joe Manzano/Photo Police Regional Office – Cordillera Public Information Office)
