SAN JOSE, Antique – Eight members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in this province surrendered to government forces.
Alias “Joy”, the only woman in the group of surrenderers presented to Gov. Rhodora Cadiao on Aug. 7, said she lived the life of a rebel for 19 years.
“I was convinced to join the CPP-NPA thinking that its idealism could be a way for me to help address the problem of poverty,” she said.
“I finally decided to surrender because I realized that there was no development in our armed struggle and I want to take care of my family now,” she added.
San Jose chief of police Major Benjo Clarite said the eight rebels were convinced to surrender because of the government’s End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program.
“Through the ELCAC, there is a convergence of the different local and national government agencies services being brought to the communities which they would like to avail themselves of,” he stressed.
Clarite said the provincial government gave the former NPA members financial aid but did not specify the amount.
The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority are willing to help the surrenderers acquire new skills and livelihood, he added.
The Police Regional Intelligence Unit and the Philippine Army 61st Infantry Battalion under the 3rd Infantry Division were also credited for the peaceful surrender of the rebels.
Clarite said this batch of surrenderers came after 11 CPP-NPA members yielded last June 23.
“We hope that more rebels would be convinced to give up their arms after the surrender of their comrades,” he added. (With a report from PNA/PN)
