“Persona Non Grata” Pushing NPA Rebels To Surrender

September 3, 2019 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The continuing declaration by communities in Cagayan Valley of New Peoples Army rebels and their alleged front organizations are pushing guerillas to surrender, the military said on Wednesday.
Only from August 10-24, six NPA rebels (two NPA Squad Leaders, a Medical Officer, two NPA regular members and a Militiang Bayan (MB) member turned themselves in to soldiers and policemen in San Mariano, Isabela.
The military named the rebels only as “Ka Kiko”, a Squad Leader under the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla Quirino-Nueva Vizcaya of Komiteng Rehiyon- Cagayan Valley; ”Ka Jerome” (Squad Leader of Squad Uno, Platoon Remo, Central Front Committee of the Komite Rehiyong-Cagayan Valley); ”Ka Barbi” (Medical Officer of Central Front Committee also of KRCV); two NPA regulars named only as “Ka Ronnie” and “Ka Arthur” and “Ka Lino” (Militiang Bayan).
Four of them surrendered with firearms and several explosives (am M16A1 (Baby Armalite) Rifle (w/ ammunitions), a Garand rifle, a shotgun (w/ ammunitions), two rifle grenades (RG), two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and one 40mm (High Explosive). According to Major General Pablo M Lorenzo AFP, commander of the Isabela-based
5th Infantry Division, these rebels abandoned the CPP-NPA underground movement when communities began denouncing them through “persona non- grate” declarations making them unwanted inside villages.
“This aside from expressing their frustration in joining the communist NPA underground movement as they realized that they were victims of the CPP-NPA black propaganda and wrong ideologies.” They came to realize, Lorenzo added that “they are utilized by the CPP-NPA in the conduct of several atrocities such as robbery, burning of construction equipment (arson) and extortion activities.”
They confessed their involvement in the conduct of some violent activities like murders, ambuscades and harassment on the military, police and even the civilians who do not extend support to their underground activities, the military commander added.
Lorenzo also hailed Local Chief Executives and the communities who declared the NPA and their front organizations as “unwanted” especially in the Cagayan; Quezon in Nueva Vizcaya; Sta Maria and Cauayan City both of Isabela; and the 42 other barangays here in Cagayan Valley region. This is an actual expression, he said, of the collective stand and desire to end the local armed conflict.
 
Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN