Another armed member of New People’sArmy- Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor (KR-NCBS) voluntarily surrendered to the government forces through the effort of PLEDS cluster of Guihulngan City Task Force-ELCAC.
The joint elements of Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 (RMFB7) and Guihulngan City Police Station facilitated the safe surrender of the NPA red fighter, yesterday, October 27, 2020 at around 8:00PM at 62IB Headquarters in Brgy Libas, Isabela, Negros Occidental.
Authorities identified the surenderee as Ka MEL, a member of Squad 2, Samahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP) Platoon under Ka BEDAM of LPC-NPA. He ran away from his comrades and finally decided to be with his family instead, a press release from the Philippine Army said.
In a statement, Ka MEL said: “Kalisod, grabing kagutom sa sulod sang armado ug kamingaw sa akong pamilya maong nidesisyon ko mag surrender. Akong nabatian ang mga testimonya sa radyo bahin sa akoang dating mga kauban nga mga armado. Naay maayong programa ang Guihulngan City ug ang gobyerno pamaagi sa E-CLIP para sa gustong mubalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno (Hardship, hunger inside the armed group and longing for my family are the reasons why I surrendered. I’ve also heard over the radio, the testimonies from my former comrades regarding the programs of Guihulngan City and the government’s E-CLIP for the rebel returnees)”.
He also added that he is not only the one inside the platoon of Ka BEDAM, who really wants to surrender to the government.
Ka MEL surrendered his (1) M16 rifle and one (1) long magazine loaded with 29 rounds of live ammunition.
LTC Melvin Flores, Commanding Officer of 62IB lauded Ka MEL for his bravery and moral courage, to choose his family over the NPAs.
Flores hopes that this will serve as an inspiration for Ka Mel’s comrades to lay down their arms and go back to the fold of the law.
Flores assured Ka Mel’s that he will receive the full assistance of E-CLIP and local government.
