CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Eighteen members of the communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA) “Yunit Milisya” voluntarily surrendered Thursday to government forces in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat.
The communist “Yunit Milisya” is comparable to the Philippine Army’s Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), serving as frontline forces in upland communities in Central Mindanao where the NPAs mainly operate.
On Thursday, the rebels belonging to an Indigenous Peoples (IPs) community in Sen. Ninoy Aquino surrendered to Army 2Lt. Dennis Gamos, executive officer of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion Alpha Company, around 11 a.m. in Barangay Midtungok.
Narding Sunap, 43, the group leader, told soldiers that they wanted to be “cleared” by the soldiers after being recruited as the “first line of defense” of hardcore NPA members in Sen. Ninoy Aquino town.
Sunap said the NPA leader in their community has repeatedly warned them to be always on guard as the military will attack them anytime.
“Ka Makmak (NPA leader) issued us weapons to defend ourselves in case the soldiers will enter our village,” Sunap said, adding that his main job in “Yunit Milisya” is to raise crops in the communal farm so NPA members will have something to eat.
A “Yunit Milisya” member, Pu Mapulo, 29, admitted they have always feared that they may bear the brunt of military offensives after two of their young members surrendered to the Army last month.
“We decided to surrender before it is too late because the two might have previously revealed our identities and location to the Army,” said Mapulo in broken Ilonggo dialect.
The surrenderers handed over 10 short firearms and eight rifles to the Army. Tired and emaciated after their long treks in the forest, the rebels were treated to a “boodle fight” by the soldiers.
Army Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, the 33rd IB commander, said the surrendering group will soon be formally presented to Sen. Ninoy Aquino Mayor Randy Ecija so they can be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the local government unit.
Since May 2017, more than 200 members of the communist Guerilla Front 73 have surrendered to the 33rd IB. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
