Monday, June 21, 2010

A Captured NPA Rebel Facilitates The Surrender Of Another Comrade In Catanduanes

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – A captured NPA rebel who was collared by soldiers of the 83rd Infantry Battalion helped persuade another comrade to surrender in an upland village in Catanduanes last Saturday, June 19, 2010.

LtCol Danilo Aquino, Commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion said that a squad of his soldiers led by SSg Monico Buenavista arrested a certain Roderick Fernandez a.k.a Nognog, a regular member of the CPP-NPA, at around 5:30am in Porot village located in the town of Pandan.

Aquino said that Fernandez was attending the barangay fiesta when he was collared by the government forces. He did not resist arrest and volunteered to cooperate with the soldiers.
“The former rebels who had previously surrendered to us last year pinpointed the location of Fernandez. He (Fernandez) fully cooperated to us and he assisted us in persuading another comrade in the same barangay to peacefully surrender three hours after his arrest,” said Aquino.

Aquino further identified the new surrenderee as a certain Noel Verano a.k.a. Jovan, who joined the rebel movement in 2006. Through the help of Ka Nognog, Fernandez was convinced to surrender to the government due to his own belief that they are being duped into believing that their lives will become better if they fight the government.

“I am convinced that it is high time to extend our cooperation to the government. My family is not receiving the ‘suporta sa pamilya’ (financial support) promised by our leaders in the CPP-NPA-NDF,” said Verano.

Major Harold Cabunoc, 9ID Spokesperson, said that since August last year, the 83rd Infantry Battalion has persuaded 30 NPA rebels to surrender to the government.

Thirty seven of the former rebels all over Bicol Region were granted their various benefits in a simple rites attended by PGMA herself held in Camarines Sur in March 2010.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has earlier directed all units in the Bicol Region to prioritize the implementation of peace and development programs in the ISO campaign.

“I believe that the acme of generalship is winning the war without resorting to violence and by convincing the enemy to peacefully surrender. I will ensure that the surrenderees will receive the financial and livelihood benefits due them through the Social Integration Program of the government,” said Pabustan.

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