Ex-NPA rebels help clean up schools in Sultan Kudarat

SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines — Reforming former New People’s Army guerillas helped soldiers clean school campuses this week in Bagumbayan town to show they are back in mainstream society.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion said Friday the 12 erstwhile NPAs who surrendered early this year also enrolled their children to elementary schools in Bagumbayan.  

Bagumbayan is a highland town in Sultan Kudarat, a component province of Administrative Region 12.

Cabunoc said they also helped personnel of the 33rd IB clean the surroundings of campuses in Bagumbayan early this week in support of the multi-sectoral “Brigada Eskwela” program.

Robin Impal, 33, said he and his companions supported the Brigada Eskwela activities to reciprocate the kindness and ambiguity of residents in barangays who gave them sanctuary after their return to the fold of law.

“We are grateful to them for accepting us in open arms despite our having terrorized them when we were still NPAs,” he said in Filipino.

Impal and his 11 companions were among more than a hundred NPAs who yielded in groups the past 14 months through the intercession of the 33rd IB and the commander of the 6th Infantry Division then, Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, now chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

They are now being ushered into mainstream society by the office of Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu and the local government units of Bagumbayan and Senator Ninoy Aquino towns.

“When they learned that our men will help teachers prepare the school campuses for school year 2018-2019, they immediately volunteered to help. That was a clear indication that they have indeed reintegrated into the local communities,” Cabunoc said.

Ten other former NPAs who yielded to the 33rd IB and pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag have also been trained and admitted to the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit.