By Priam Nepomuceno/ PNA
MANILA — The Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) offered anew the government’s protection and livelihood package to New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels, who are thinking of surrendering due to military pressure and threats from their own comrades.
“On our part, our doors are still open for those who want to return to the folds of the law. We will protect you from your former cadres and provide you with the benefits under the E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) so that you can go back to your families and live normal lives away from violence,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said in a text message Wednesday.
Detoyato made this offer as the NPA, which is steadily losing ground and influence since 2016, is now killing its own members suspected of collaborating with the government.
“The communist terrorists have been radically reduced since 2016, as seen in our regular release of the statistics. This loss on their side infuriates them and they resort to killing their own members who they think have connection to the military, or the government. It is their design to be radical,” he added.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
From January to December 2018 alone, the AFP said a total of 11,605 NPA members and supporters have surrendered.
This can be broken down into 1,222 regular NPAs while 1,398 are “Militia ng Bayan” operatives; 408 “Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad”; 1,133 “Underground Mass Organization” members and 7,444 others considered as supporters of the communist terrorists. This does not include the 120 killed and 196 arrested during military operations.
