EIGHTY-FOUR New People’s Army (NPA) members and supporters in Calabarzon region have turned themselves over to police and military authorities during mass surrender rites in Antipolo City last week Philippine National Police chief (PNP), General Debold M. Sinas said yesterday.

The 84 renounced their NPA membership and condemned the movement’s atrocities after declaring their oath of allegiance to the government and burning the CPP/NPA flags as a sign of their disgust to the armed group, the PNP chief said.

The activity held at the Antipolo Institute of Technology in Sitio Cabading in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City was also attended by Army 2nd Infantry Division chief, Major Gen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro and other Rizal local government officials led by ex-Governor Casimiro Ynares, now the Presidential Adviser for Southern Tagalog.

“Para sa ating rebeldeng nagbalik-loob na kasama natin ngayon, maraming maraming salamat sa pagbibigay ng pagkakaton at pagtitiwala muli sa ating pamahalaan na ang tanging hangad lamang ay ang kaayusan at kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” Sinas said in a message delivered for him by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Lieutenant Gen. Joselito M. Vera Cruz.

PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro said they initiated the activity to establish and bring down the direct links of the armed operations of the CPP-NPA-NDF to their urban–based and legal front organizations.

“This undertaking serves as a proof of convergence of the government’s efforts or the impact of its approach combined with local peace initiatives evidenced by the nationwide influx of surrenderers as well as a message of hope that there is life outside the communist network for the government will always welcome with open arms those returnees to the folds of the law,” he said.

The PNP and the AFP also held a Serbisyo Caravan and Mobile Kitchen in the area as part of their ‘Victory Day Activities.’

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon