Former rebels in R1 join gov’t efforts to curb insurgency
By Venus May Sarmiento / Philippine Information Agency
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Former rebels (FRs) in Region I now join the call of the government to curb insurgency to attain lasting peace in the country.
in a simple ceremony during the Bike for Peace and Justice held in Pangasinan on Saturday, four former rebels thanked the government led by President Rodrigo Duterte for helping them and accepting them back into the society where they now live peaceful lives.
Ka Devon, who represented the former rebels organization in Ilocos Region, said he decided to go back to the government side because he has seen the injustice and senseless killings being done by the communist-terrorist groups to helpless civilians.
“Umiiyak kami bilang mga former rebels dahli ang aming pinaniwalaan noon ay puro pala kasinungalingan. Ang sinasabi namin nuon ay maglingkod sa sambayanang Pilipno, hindi ‘yung pumatay sa walang kasalanan,” Ka Devon said.
He added that the promises of the rebel groups to give good life to its members is false and they would only use their members to sow fear and kill fellow filipinos.
“Dahil natuklasan namin na mali na ang ginagawa ng komunista, kami po ay nakiikiisa sa inyo ngayon at nagsasabi na huwag na nating tangkilikin ang komunistang kilusan,” he added.
Other FRs, Romulo Manzano, Salvador Monje and Ronald Pascasio said they have seen the change in the country being implemented by the law enforcement agencies which enticed them to give up their false beliefs.
Yung tulong ng gobyerno, umaabot na sa amin ngayon. Dahil tuluy-tuloy ang pagbabago, wala pong tutunguhan ang NPA kundi magbalik loob. Nakikita nila kung ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno para maresolba ang kaguluhan sa bansa,” Manzano said.
The FRs also extended their sympathies to the Absalon family where cousins Keith and Nolven Absalon were killed when an improvised explosive device exploded in a landmine in Masbate City.
By virtue of Executive Order No. 70 by President Duterte in 2018, the whole-of nation approach was institutionalized to attain inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a national task force to end local communist armed conflict (JCR/VHS/PIA Pangasinan)