Rescued in Ifugao, UP grad turned rebel back to his parents

June 9, 2022 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (June 9, 2022) —UP graduate Emman Tan, rescued by Philippine Army troopers after firefights with communist rebels in remote Namal, Asipulo, Ifugao, has returned back to his family.
Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, together with a local government unit official and a representative from the local social welfare office handed over Tan to his parent in front of the headquarters building of 7ID in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
“We hope all the best (for him)”, said Costelo to Tan’s parent.   “I hope he can now take advantage his credentials on community development degree from UP to have a better life after this sad experience from joining the NPA.”
The parent, who went to Ifugao last Tuesday looking for her son, was informed by the local Army unit based in Kiangan, Ifugao that Emman was transferred in Fort Magsaysay for security reasons.
Troopers rescued Emman from a series of clashes with the NPA last May 30.
The military said Tan who took the nom de guerre “Ka Bagins” voluntarily surrendered after escaping from a firefight between soldiers and his rebel unit.
He is a former member of UP Anakbayan in 2012 and got his Bachelor of Science degree on Community Development from UP Diliman in 2016, Costelo said.  Tan is also according to the military, is an active member of Concerned Artists of the Philippines since 2019.
The military admitted that Emman is still facing possible legal suits even as local prosecutors in Ifugao and the Army legal officers are processing required legal documents.
Costelo said, records show that a total of 28 students or graduates from different colleges and universities who joined the NPA were killed in armed encounters with government security forces as of February 2022.
From this number, 18 are from the University of the Philippines, he added.
Artemio A. Dumlao