Communist Rebel Ranks In Kalinga Thinning Fast

October 29, 2019 Provincial

La Trinidad Benguet (October 25, 2019) — Government forces said communist rebel ranks in Kalinga is thinning fast as four more New People’s Army rebels gave up this Wednesday at the police headquarters.
Four more NPA rebels voluntarily surrendered at Camp Captain Juan Duyan in Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga, after the surrender of alleged NPA Commander, “Ka Diwa” last week (October 16). All members of the NPA auxiliary force “Militia ng Bayan” under the Kalingabased Lejo Cawilan Command, “Ka Abag”, “Ka Amaya”, “Ka Berna” and “Ka Yasel”, all from barangay Buaya, in Balbalan town formally surrendered at around 11:30 AM of October 23, 2019.
“Ka Abag” turned in an M1 US Garand rifle loaded with 2 clip type magazines and 7 ammunitions; “Ka Amaya” surrendered a 5.56 assault rifle, two magazines and 25 ammunitions. “Ka Berna” and “Ka Yasel” surrendered without
firearms.
The Cordillera police said rebel ranks continuously diminish as their members gradually surrender to the government forces taking into account governments’ “continuous and massive information campaign and tactical operations by both police and AFP forces”. Rebels are also encouraged to give up because of the benefits given under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program and incentives for the firearms that will be returned.
But “Ka Tipon Gil-ayab”, spokesman of the Kalinga rebels claimed that the “fake surrender” campaign reeks out of alleged corruption of the funds from the Enhanced- Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The NPA spokesman cited that in 2016, 69 from Lubuagan, who supposedly were only attendees of a barangay meeting, were tagged as surrenders, though they were only common village folks.
Gil-ayab also claimed there is also a recycling of rebel surrenderees, like how drugs are being recycled in drug operations. “Isang pang halimbawa rito ang paggamit mismo ng mga CAFGU upang magpanggap bilang mga NPA at magsuko ng kanilang mga armas nitong 2019,” he said.
The rebel spokesman also vouched that “Ka Diwa” who surrendered on October 16 had long left the NPA because ‘he could not abide by the strict discipline (within the NPA) and failure to reform”. “Ka Diwa” surrendered in 2017 and since then had no link with the revolutionary movement, Gil-ayab said.
Gil-ayab claimed ‘the government is only fooling itself with these reports on fake surrenders’ and only part of the psychological warfare launched against them.
 
Artemio Dumlao/ABN