Published on: February 22, 2023
Updated as of February 22, 2023 10:02 am
By Consuelo Alarcon
PALO, Leyte (PIA) – Some eighteen (18) former members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) who voluntarily surrendered to police authorities in Eastern Visayas expressed high hopes of starting their lives anew as they took oaths of allegiance to the government.
They were presented by Police Brigadier General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, regional director of the Police Regional Office 8, to the local media on Friday, February 17, at the Matapat Hall, Camp Rupeto Kangleon, this municipality.
All in all, there were nineteen (19) members of the CTG’s, but alias Ka Ella was not able to attend because she was due to give birth.
As he warmly welcomed all surrenderees, Marbil expressed his elation for the trust they gave to police officers in the region, saying he remained optimistic that more rebels will be reintegrated into the government.
“Natutuwa po ako sa pagsurender niyo. Sana po mas marami pa kayong mahikayat sa mga dating kasama niyo. Wala naman po tayong dapat pag-awayan dahil pare pareho tayong mga Pilipino," Marbil said.
He also lauded the efforts of all police personnel, the Philippine Army, and other law enforcers in facilitating the surrender of the former CTGs in accordance with the implementation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflcit (NTF-ELCAC).
“It is through your dedication and commitment to public safety and orderliness that our brothers and sisters in the armed struggle decided to return to the government,” Marbil said.
The surrenderees, who yielded to police authorities from January 1, to February 17, 2023, brought with them and turned over firearms of different calibers such as two units of .45 caliber pistols, one unit of calibre .38, two (2) units of M16 rifle, one unit of improvised 5.56 firearm, and one unit of hand grenade.
A 23-year-old woman identified as alias Ka Diane confessed that she was a college student in one of the schools in Catbalogan City, Samar when she was convinced to join the CTG due to their promises.
But after seven (7) long years in the armed struggle, she realized that her life was meaningless and without direction, plus the hardships she encountered in the mountains.
“Nakapagtulak sa akin na magsurender kasi sa seven years ko po sa taas wala pong saysay ang buhay ko doon na tulad ng mga pangako nila. Bago ako sumapi sa NPA may mga pangako sila sa akin na sabi nila libre ang pag-aaral di tulad dito sa gobyerno malaki ang babayaran di ka makakapagtapos kaya umakyat ako dahil maganda ang mga pangako,” Ka Diane said. (MMP/CBA/PIA-8)
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