MindanaoToday.com | 7 rebels from Normin yield
By: Uriel Quilinguing
Cagayan de Oro City – After years of armed struggle with little or no subsistence support from villagers where they stay in hiding, seven individuals tagged as communist terrorists operating in Northern Mindanao region surrendered to authorities on Friday, May 24, this year.
Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, on Thursday, May 30, said those who turn themselves up will no longer be charged for crimes. They will be placed under the state’s amnesty program.
DPAO identified the returnees as Tataw Manghomosay Tingkayan, 65; Erna Panhayan Tingkayan, 58; Crisanto Borgios Ligayna, 52; Jodelyn Castillo, 50; Crisante Mantadayun Ligayna, 23; Gena Abansa Altuhan, 20; and Jonardo Manabudan Mantadayun, 19. They turned over four M16 rifles and an AR18 rifle.
All were members of the headquarters force of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) that covers Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental provinces in Northern Mindanao as well as some portions of Caraga.
Lt. Col. Marc Bien Stevens Deslate, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Bridade said: “Their decision to surrender came after experiencing extreme exhaustion and hunger due to successive focused military operations in the area, as they no longer receive ample support from their former mass bases.”
Deslate said negotiations by a team under the Modified Community Support Program (MCSP) and elements from the 23rd Infantry Battalion was successful, hence the extraction of seven rebels from Sitio Malungsagay, Barangay Minalwang in Claveria town in Misamis Oriental. The MCSP team was deployed at Sitio Ulayanon, Barangay Kalabugao of Impasug-ong town, Bukidnon.
The returnees were then presented to Brig. Gen. Michele Anayron Jr., commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade at Camp Osito Bahian in Malaybalay City, in the presence of Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Niel Roque, and Malaybalay City Mayor Anthony Uy.
Roque, in his message, assured the returnees of the benefits for them under the Enhanced Local Integration Program (ECLIP) so that they could “start a new and peaceful life.”
“Thank you for your trust in returning to the government. If you endured 40 years of rebellion, hopefully, you can endure three years living with the government, and see the government’s livelihood program become successful,” the governor said.
Maj. Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, Commander of 4ID, in a statement, said: “As you embrace the path to peace and start a new chapter of your lives, we assure you of the benefits that the government has promised under the E-CLIP.” (MT)
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