ANTIPOLO CITY (PIA) – The Antipolo local government has welcomed the surrender of communist insurgents and a community’s withdrawal of support to the rebel group during the Local Peace Engagement (LPE) program on August 25 at Sitio San Joseph Gym in San Jose, Antipolo City.
During the event, a total of 11 surrenderees from Milisya ng Bayan, 30 former couriers, 20 mass base supporters, and 117 local residents were warmly welcomed into the community.
As a gesture of their commitment to living in harmony, the former rebels surrendered two shotguns and live ammunition to the Philippine Army. They also conducted a burning of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) flags to symbolize their rejection of the communist terrorist groups’ (CTG) ideologies.
The event was organized by the Antipolo Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) in collaboration with the Philippine Army’s 202nd Infantry “Unifier” Brigade and 80th Infantry “Steadfast” Battalion and the San Jose Barangay Task Force ELCAC.
Family members of the former and current rebels also shared the negative impacts of their involvement with the communist rebels.
Fe Teves Mopon called on her son and daughter-in-law to return to the government’s fold and make use of the services offered to support them in their transition.
“I urge my son, Ka Boyong, and my daughter-in-law, Ka Manay, to return to the government and to the Lord God. I believe that the government will help you, as the military has shown us love and care throughout the years. They have greatly supported our needs, such as providing medical treatment for my illness, medical check-ups, financial assistance, and food,” she said.
Major Gen. Roberto S. Capulong, commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division, commended the efforts of the Antipolo city government and other government agencies for working together to empower local communities in their fight against insurgency. (AM/PIA4A)
