2,510 rebels, mass supporters surrender in Negros Occidental
Published Sep 21, 2019 06:46 pm
By Glazyl Masculino
ESCALANTE CITY - The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) and 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) has processed 2,510 former members and mass supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) during the northern Negros peace summit and commemoration of the 34th Escalante massacre here in Negros Occidental Friday.
Escalante Mayor Melecio Yap (4th from left), Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco (3rd from left), Brigadier General Eric Vinoya (6th from left) assistant division commander of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo (5th from right), commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), Police Colonel Romeo Baleros (4th from right), Negros Occidental police director, Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan (right), 79th IB commander, and former rebel Ka Joros (3rd from right), during the northern Negros peace summit and commemoration of the 34th Escalante massacre held at the city’s coliseum in Negros Occidental Friday. (Glazyl Masculino Photo)
The rebel returnees and mass supporters came from the first, second, and third districts of the province.
Of the total figure, 997 were from Escalante City, 560 from San Carlos City,
382 from Toboso town, 217 from Salvador Benedicto town, 171 from Calatrava town, 63 from Sagay City, 54 from Victorias City, 20 from Cadi City, 18 from Murcia town, 14 from E.B. Magalona town, 13 from Manapla town, and 1 from Silay City.
One of the rebel returnees, Ka Joros, a former member of the Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) of the NPA, said he was recruited to be part of the revolutionary movement since he was 14 years old.
He was tasked to deliver letters until he reached 18 years old and was trained to use firearms. He was then assigned as part of the disperse squad, wherein they were tasked to kill individuals being targeted by the group through the orders of their leaders.
“Wala kaming magawa dahil na train kami nila sa maling paniniwala. Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa mga biktima at pamilya ng mga napatay ko. Hindi na namin maibabalik ang buhay na kinuha namin. Biktima din kami ng maling daan,” he said.
“Ngayon na nagbalik-loob ako sa gobyerno, gagawin ko ang lahat para mapunan ang pagkakamali ko. Tutulungan ko ang mga dati kong kasamahan na nasa maling landas hanggang ngayon. Kailangan ng matigil ang patayan dahil masama ito sa lipunan. Magtulungan tayo pra sa ikauunlad ng bansa,” he added.
The rebel returnees led by “Ka Joros” surrendered 41 firearms to the government and they also took the oath of allegiance, together with the other former mass supporters of the rebel group.
Surrendered firearms include an M14, a sniper rifle caliber .30, four Garand rifle, four M16, four KG9, 13 .45 caliber pistol, an Ingram, a homemade shotgun, seven .38 caliber revolver, three .357 magnum, and two .22 caliber black widow.
Brigadier-General Eric Vinoya, 3ID assistant division commander, said he is hoping that the rebel returnees will cooperate in the government’s campaign against insurgency.
“This momentous occasion substantiates that the dream of building peaceful communities is now at hand. Let us rejoice for our vision is now becoming a reality,” Vinoya said, as he congratulated those who have decided to return to the folds of the law.
The rebel returnees can now avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip), a livelihood seeding program of the government for former rebels, which aims to assist them and their families by providing them with opportunities.
Vinoya said he is hoping that the activity will encourage more rebels to surrender for long-lasting peace in the island of Negros.
For his part, Mayor Melecio Yap said that the program is for the people of northern Negros to make them see the government’s commitment to providing them with various programs to end the local armed conflict in the province.
“We’re doing this during the massacre commemoration so that the people will remember those who have sacrificed their lives if the war still continues,” he added.
The Escalante massacre happened last September 20, 1985, claiming 20 lives and scored several injuries to about 30 persons. It happened a day before the commemoration of the 13th anniversary of martial law by the locals of the city.
Meanwhile, statements of apology were given by a former rebel, the LGU, police, and military to the families and victims of the massacre.
The activity also includes the dialogue and presentation of the Escalante massacre and giving tribute to those who were killed by the NPA.
Also present in the activity were Mayors Laurence Marxlen dela Cruz, Richard Jaojoco, and Marilyn Era of Salvador Benedicto, Toboso, and Calatrava towns, respectively.
Former 1st district representative Julio Ledesma IV, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), and Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, 79th IB commander were also present in the occasion.
Escalante Mayor Melecio Yap (4th from left), Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco (3rd from left), Brigadier General Eric Vinoya (6th from left) assistant division commander of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo (5th from right), commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), Police Colonel Romeo Baleros (4th from right), Negros Occidental police director, Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan (right), 79th IB commander, and former rebel Ka Joros (3rd from right), during the northern Negros peace summit and commemoration of the 34th Escalante massacre held at the city’s coliseum in Negros Occidental Friday. (Glazyl Masculino Photo)
The rebel returnees and mass supporters came from the first, second, and third districts of the province.
Of the total figure, 997 were from Escalante City, 560 from San Carlos City,
382 from Toboso town, 217 from Salvador Benedicto town, 171 from Calatrava town, 63 from Sagay City, 54 from Victorias City, 20 from Cadi City, 18 from Murcia town, 14 from E.B. Magalona town, 13 from Manapla town, and 1 from Silay City.
One of the rebel returnees, Ka Joros, a former member of the Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) of the NPA, said he was recruited to be part of the revolutionary movement since he was 14 years old.
He was tasked to deliver letters until he reached 18 years old and was trained to use firearms. He was then assigned as part of the disperse squad, wherein they were tasked to kill individuals being targeted by the group through the orders of their leaders.
“Wala kaming magawa dahil na train kami nila sa maling paniniwala. Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa mga biktima at pamilya ng mga napatay ko. Hindi na namin maibabalik ang buhay na kinuha namin. Biktima din kami ng maling daan,” he said.
“Ngayon na nagbalik-loob ako sa gobyerno, gagawin ko ang lahat para mapunan ang pagkakamali ko. Tutulungan ko ang mga dati kong kasamahan na nasa maling landas hanggang ngayon. Kailangan ng matigil ang patayan dahil masama ito sa lipunan. Magtulungan tayo pra sa ikauunlad ng bansa,” he added.
The rebel returnees led by “Ka Joros” surrendered 41 firearms to the government and they also took the oath of allegiance, together with the other former mass supporters of the rebel group.
Surrendered firearms include an M14, a sniper rifle caliber .30, four Garand rifle, four M16, four KG9, 13 .45 caliber pistol, an Ingram, a homemade shotgun, seven .38 caliber revolver, three .357 magnum, and two .22 caliber black widow.
Brigadier-General Eric Vinoya, 3ID assistant division commander, said he is hoping that the rebel returnees will cooperate in the government’s campaign against insurgency.
“This momentous occasion substantiates that the dream of building peaceful communities is now at hand. Let us rejoice for our vision is now becoming a reality,” Vinoya said, as he congratulated those who have decided to return to the folds of the law.
The rebel returnees can now avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip), a livelihood seeding program of the government for former rebels, which aims to assist them and their families by providing them with opportunities.
Vinoya said he is hoping that the activity will encourage more rebels to surrender for long-lasting peace in the island of Negros.
For his part, Mayor Melecio Yap said that the program is for the people of northern Negros to make them see the government’s commitment to providing them with various programs to end the local armed conflict in the province.
“We’re doing this during the massacre commemoration so that the people will remember those who have sacrificed their lives if the war still continues,” he added.
The Escalante massacre happened last September 20, 1985, claiming 20 lives and scored several injuries to about 30 persons. It happened a day before the commemoration of the 13th anniversary of martial law by the locals of the city.
Meanwhile, statements of apology were given by a former rebel, the LGU, police, and military to the families and victims of the massacre.
The activity also includes the dialogue and presentation of the Escalante massacre and giving tribute to those who were killed by the NPA.
Also present in the activity were Mayors Laurence Marxlen dela Cruz, Richard Jaojoco, and Marilyn Era of Salvador Benedicto, Toboso, and Calatrava towns, respectively.
Former 1st district representative Julio Ledesma IV, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), and Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, 79th IB commander were also present in the occasion.