SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--Local government and security officials ​here through the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) welcomed two former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) Thursday, August 19 , who formally surfaced and surrendered to finally return to the fold of the law. 

Their firearms and ammunition were also handed over, including an M653 assault rifle, a USM1 garand rifle, two each of 5.56mm long and short magazines, and 800 rounds of 5.56 ammunition. 

Col. Rey Alemania, ​commander of ​the ​2nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, ​said the returnees were not operating within the municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo but from a different locality and opted to voluntarily yield in the said town. 

“Siguro nakita nila nga ang programa sa atong probinsiya para sa ila, nga ilang pagsalig nga ilang panginhanglan matabangana sila maong gipili nila nga diri sila magpaproseso sa Sultan Naga Dimaporo ug masupervise sa province sa Lanao del Norte,” he said.

[Maybe they saw that the program of our province is for them, that they trust that their needs will be addressed, that is why they chose to be processed in Sultan Naga Dimaporo and be supervised in Lanao del Norte.] 

With the warm welcome given by the government, the former rebels expressed their gratitude as they offered their surrender for unity

“Kinasingkasing nako nga gisurrender ang akong kiabuhi, pati ang armas. Kinasingkasing nako nga pagbalik sa sabakan sa atong gobyerno para sa paghiniusa. Nakita namo ang kinasingkasing nga pagdawat sa kaubanan [nga army],” said alias Harold.

[I heartily surrender my life, including my firearm. I heartily return to the care of our government for oneness. We see the heartfelt welcome of our companions [in the army].

Meanwhile, PMaj. Moamar Solog,officer-in-charge of the Municipal Police Station, voiced his hope that the returnees will serve as an inspiration for other active NPA members to also do the same act.

“Manghinaot ko nga kamong duha mahimong instrumento sa pagconvince sa uban nga buhaton gihapon nila ang inyong gibuhat because I believe nga mao nani ang the best way nga buhaton kay kaning mga butanga [ang mga armas], dili gyud ni sila maayo nga naa sa atong panimalay,” he said. 

[I hope that the two of you will become instruments to convince others to do the thing that you did because I believe this is already the best way to do because these things [the firearms], these will not cause any good to a home.]

Currently, the former rebels are supported by the 5th Mechanized Infantry “Kaagapay” Battalion while the provincial government proceeds for the construction of the halfway house to securely shelter ​former rebels​ while their benefits​ to start​ ​their new life are still ​being ​processed. (CRG/PIA​-​ICIC)