by Mary Judaline Partlow | Philippine News Agency
DUMAGUETE CITY – An active member of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) of the Philippine Army in Barangay Tambo in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
A media release from the 94IB on Thursday (Jan. 20) identified the rebel as alias “Dener”, a squad leader of the NPA’s Central Negros Front 2 who voluntarily surrendered in Barangay Tambo on Wednesday (Jan. 19) morning.
Before his surrender, he was allegedly involved in propaganda and recruitment in the hinterlands of Binalbagan, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental.
He was also said to be involved in 10 armed engagements with government troops while with the insurgency movement for almost a decade but hardships, hunger, and false promises of the NPA leaders led to his decision to surrender, the Army media release said.
“Dener” also surrendered a .45-caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition to the Army battalion.
He is currently undergoing stress debriefing before his enrollment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which provides welfare assistance, livelihood assistance, and incentives for the surrendered firearm.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, lauded the efforts of the 94IB, saying “Dener’s” surrender “adds up to the increasing number of NPA and Militia ng Bayan members who finally woke up from the deceptions of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) and decided to come out for good and avail (of) the amnesty program of the government.”
Pasaporte encouraged other members of the CPP-NPA to “abandon the armed struggle” and avail of the E-CLIP.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA. (PNA) – bny
