Four self-confessed supporters of the New Peoples Army yesterday surrendered to government and turned over four vintage high powered firearms reportedly used during World War 1 and World War II.
The returnees include Marcial Prieto, Leon Manulat, Ruel Tañana of Danao City and Noel Agudo of Tuburan. The four received cash yesterday through the “Balik Baril Program” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The four reportedly surrendered because of the hardships in the mid-north and fear of getting into trouble with government troops.
Prieto surrendered a US .30 caliber Springfield Rifle to First Lieutenant Romelo Tagubuan of the 78th IB’s Bravo Company based in his barangay.
Agudo, who is said to be a local militia of the NPA based in sitio Kawayan, barangay Mag-antoy, Tuburan also surrendered one US M1 Carbine Rifle to the military while Manulat and Tañana, neighbors in barangay Bayabas, Danao surrendered another US Springfield Rifle respectively to the 78th IB.
The four surrendered after attending a “pulong-pulong” with government troops in the mountain barangays as part of the AFP’s special operations. They claimed to have learned something better that they did not see from the NPA.
The weapons surrendered correspond to P2,000 cash to each of the one who surrendered the firearm. The AFP also added another P2,000 to each of the four former NPA supporters to help them start with life.
Weeks ago, the RMG-7 deployed companies of policemen to Northern parts of Cebu to augment the existing forces of the 78th IB.
Meanwhile, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has directed the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office to come up with a program to help the returnees make a decent living. A special fund would be allocated for the returnees.
“Ato ni silang tabangan nga sila mahimo usab nga dakong gamit sa komunidad…. aron ang ilang kinabuhi duna’y sarang nga kapa-ingnan,” Garcia said, at the same time, congratulating the 78IB and the Central Command. — Edwin Ian Melecio and Joy Kareen Saliente/JMO