CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Influx of former combatants from the Communist Terrorist Group continued as four (4) of their members decided to turn their backs on the communist movement and live peacefully as they surrendered to the 37th Infantry Battalion (37IB) on November 09, 2021 at Brgy. Tibpuan, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
The former rebels under West Daguma Front, SRC Daguma, Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) brought along with them their respective firearms which include one (1) locally made Cal .22 rifle, one (1) locally made pistol 12 gauge, one (1) Cal .45 pistol COLT M1911 and one (1) rifle grenade.
Lieutenant Colonel Allen Van Estrera, Commander of 37IB disclosed that the series of Community Support Program (CSP) conducted with other government and private organizations made the former combatants to lay down their firearms and return to the folds of the law. “These former rebels decided to surrender because they want to have peaceful and normal lives. They are now tired of hiding and now want to live peacefully with their families”, Ltc. Estrera added.
Meanwhile, another high ranking leader of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) decided to surrender to the government troops under 38th Infantry Battalion (38IB) at Sitio Macao, Brgy. Kablacan, Maasim, Sarangani Province on November 07, 2021.
Commanding Officer of 38IB, Lieutenant Colonel Anhouvic Atilano said that alias Manoy, Commander of Green Peak Platoon, Guerilla Front Musa, FSMR voluntarily surrendered to the 38IB headquarters.
“The surrender of alias Manoy, a top ranking official of a CTG in Sarangani, only shows that the campaign of the JTFC against terrorism is gaining momentum as more of their members are now compelled to return to the folds of law”, Ltc. Atilano said.
In addition on November 02, 2021, another member of the communist terror group decided to return to the folds of the law as he surrendered to the 5th Special Forces Battalion troops in Brgy Lambingi, Banga, South Cotabato.
Lieutenant Colonel Zandro Alvez, Commanding Officer of 5SFBn expressed that the former communist combatant. surrendered one (1) US M1 cal.30 carbine rifle and one (1) magazine with three (3) rounds of cartridge cal.30 ammunition.
Major General Juvymax Uy, Commander of the Joint Task Force Central and the 6th Infantry Division commended the efforts of both the JTFC troops and the Local Government Units of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and South Cotabato. “The waves of surrender of the communist terrorist group is the result of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the Joint Task Force Central. Some of their leaders and several members have surrendered. They are now awakened and have realized that the CTG ideologies are only based on deception”, Maj. Gen. Uy stated.
The JTFC and the 6ID Commander reiterated his call to the remaining members of the CTG to abandon their armed struggle.
