CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — “As of now, kining ideolohiya, wala naman gyud (this ideology is non-existent), it’s irrelevant,” MGen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said, calling Filipinos who are still in the mountains fighting against the government to come down and be part of nation-building.
“Ang pag-rebelde, dili mani mao ang tubag sa ato-ang mga issues. Ang atong pagtubag ani ang atong paglingkod og atong istoryahan, pangitaan nato og solusyon ang atong mga issues and concerns,” Cuerpo said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on August 13.
(Being a rebel is not the answer to our issues. Our response is to sit down and talk; let’s find a solution to our issues and concerns.)
From January to August 2024 in Region 10, the 4ID recorded 17 encounters with the rebel group, CPP-NPA. For the area of the 4ID, including region 13 or CARAGA, they were able to record 44 encounters.
In terms of deaths in the NPA, region 10 had 9, but overall, including CARAGA, there were a total of 15.
Meanwhile, captured or apprehended were six in region 10 and two in the CARAGA region, for a total of eight. In terms of surrender, there were 59 in Region 10 and 39 in Region 13.
According to Cuerpo, the current administration has an amnesty program for those rebels willing to give up arms and join mainstream society.
“Aduna nay local amnesty board dinhi wiling to process the amnesty of individuals who have become victims of walhong ideolohiya (There is a local amnesty board here willing to process the amnesty of individuals who have become victims of fascist ideology),” he said.
Cuerpo reiterated that while they have achieved these accomplishments, the deaths and injuries of these NPA members are not something to be happy about because, after all, they are still Filipinos, “our brothers and sisters.”
“We are hoping that they will listen to the clamor of the community and the clamor of the Filipino nation to come down and be part of nation-building,” he said. (JMOR/PIA-10)
