ILOILO City – A suspected ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Iloilo province surrendered in Barangay Zone 1, Tubungan town.
Moncino Tacaisan, 49, of Barangay Igtuble, Tubungan had two standing arrest warrants, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Jose Romel Samson, Tubungan police chief.
Tacaisan’s surrender on Feb. 22 was facilitated by Mayor Roquito Tacsagon.
Tacaisan was the squad leader of Sibat Platoon, Southern Front Komiteng Rehiyon Panay, for eight years, said Samson.
He faces two charges – for acts of lasciviousness way back in 2012 and for murder in 2017.
Samson said Tacaisan admitted to being a rebel but denied the two charges.
Citing intelligence information, Samson said the surrenderer joined the NPA in 2012 after he was charged with acts of lasciviousness.
Philippine Army’s Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, said Tacaisan went by the alias “Ka Dana” and was in their list of rebels operating in Tubungan and neighboring towns.
He thanked Tacsagon for facilitating the surrender.
Pancito urged other local government officials to help the police and military convince rebels to yield.
“Kung magtulungan tayo, we can solve insurgency problem ,” said Pancito.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion, cited Tacsagon and the Tubungan local government for their commitment to the government’s fight against insurgency.
Tubungan implements a reintegration program to benefit former members of the NPA. “Project ROKIT” or Reintegration Oplan Kabalaka for Deserving Individuals in Tubungan provides rebel returnees with livelihood and other reintegration assistance./PN
