CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Two (2) disgruntled NPA rebels voluntarily surrendered to government troops in Bgy Rangas, Juban, Sorsogon at around 8:00pm yesterday (March 11), a military officer said.
According to 1st Lieutenant Jimmy C Amoloy, Commander of the Alpha Company, 22nd Infantry Battalion, the two surrenderors were identified as Jonas Enriquez and Merwin Arcabado y Romblon. They are members of KOMPROB MMX of the CPP-NPA-NDF and they brought with them one M16A1 Rifle, one Shotgun, one Caliber .45 M1911A1 Pistol,one Cal .357 revolver, a binocular and a rifle grenade.
In a phone interview with Major Harold M Cabunoc, Chief of the Public Affairs Office, 9ID, Arcabado said he was fed up by the empty promises of his NPA recruiters who persuaded them to leave their family members in Aroroy, Masbate to fight for their ‘cause’.
“Our leaders in the rebel group were getting so much money from our extortion activities. Majority of the lowly fighters like me cannot even sustain our respective families whom we left behind in our barangays,” he said.
Likewise, Enriquez lamented that his only son does not recognize him anymore. “I wish to live a normal life and feed my family with the products of my own labor. I am deeply ashamed to admit that we are forcing other people to give us ‘revolutionary tax’ so that we can buy food for our starving family members”, he added.
The two are currently undergoing debriefing at the headquarters of the 22nd Infantry Battalion in Pili, Cam Sur.
LtCol Leoncio Cirunay, Commander of the 22nd Infantry Battalion said that the duo will receive various financial and livelihood benefits from the government. “This is a good indication that more and more rebels are enlightened about the evils of their banditry,” said Cirunay.
Major General Ruperto R Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division will formally receive the two surrenderors who expressed intention to help persuade many of their former comrades to go back to the folds of the law.
No comments:
Post a Comment