A high-ranking officer of New People’s Army surrendered to the 71st Infantry Battalion in Purok 8, Barangay Nueva Visayas, Mawab, Compostela Valley on Aug. 23 around 10 a.m.
1Lt. Jhocell Asis, the civil- military operations (CMO) officer of 71st IB, said alias Dodong was one of the leaders of Section Committee 2 (Secom 2) of the NPA.
His surrender was facilitated by Capt. Elesio L. Marcolino, commander of the Charlie Company of 72nd Infantry Battalion.
Dodong also turned over his .45 caliber pistol with one magazine and .45 Ingram with two long magazines loaded with six bullets.
“We are already tired of hiding from the government troops and the military and I don’t like the rules of the NPA anymore. I want to change my life and live peacefully with my family,” he said.
Lt. Col. Esteveyn E. Ducusin, commander of the 71st IB, said that Dodong was one of the notorious NPA leaders who was very active in many harassment and extortion activities the province.
“The continued surrender of NPA members and leaders with their firearms is a manifestation that the 71st IB continues to gain the trust and confidence of the people in the area,” he said.
The rebel leader will be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (Eclip) to get his livelihood assistance and firearm remuneration. The Eclip is a program of the government to assist those NPA and Militia ng Bayan (MB) members who wish to return to the mainstream society.
Student activist turns
self over to military
AN ALLEGED student-activist also turned himself over to the 71st Infantry Battalion during the same activity.
1Lt Jhocell Asis, the civil- military Operations (CMO) officer of 71st Infantry Battalion, identified the student as alias Ferdie, a former scholar of Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated (Misfi).
Asis said Ferdie was a scholar of Misfi from 2013 to 2016 and studied at Liceo De Davao University in Tagum City. He was in the third year college when he decided to stop his scholarship.
“Misfi is a community school based in Sitio Tyra, Barangay Lapu-lapu, Maco Compostela Valley province and allegedly penetrated by the communist recruiters teaching students to grow up hostile against the government,” she said.
According to Ferdie, he left because he didn’t want to serve as volunteer teacher of Salugpongan schools as stated in their scholarship contract. He also revealed that when he was studying, he joined several mass demonstrations against the government.
These includes the rally at Panacan, Davao City in 2016 calling for the freedom of political prisoners and another rally at Department of Education regional office in Davao City to pressure the military into leaving the communities.
Ducusin expressed his gratitude for the surrender of Ferdie. “We are committed and more than willing to accommodate other student-activists who want to go back to their normal lives and take part on peace-building for progress and development,” Ducusin said.
“It is the third time that scholars from MISFI visited our camp and signified their intention to be reoriented to the government,” he added.
