BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. led the members of the Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (CRPOC) in welcoming two former rebels back to the folds of law and in receiving 29 recovered high caliber firearms during the CRPOC 3rd Quarter Meeting on July 14, 2023 in Baguio City.

The Secretary with CRPOC Chair Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong who joined the program virtually, Vice-Chair Police Regional Office Cordillera Director PBGen. David Peredo Jr., Co Vice-Chair 5th Infantry Division Commander MGen. Audrey Pasia, and Head Secretariat Department of the Interior and Local Government -Cordillera Director Araceli San Jose received the former rebels, including a high ranking official, with their firearms.

Teodoro congratulated the government forces and partners for their untiring efforts to keep peace and promote development in communities. He emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has opened doors of opportunities in the government for former rebels who have surrendered or will surrender.

“Anya pay apo ti rason nga bagbagkatin yo ti paltug, pangbutbuteng ti kakadwa tayo? Inbaga ni Presidente nga silulukat ti ruwangan ti gobyerno nu agsubli kayo, aywanan kayo, ikkan kayo ti baru nga panagbiyag,” (What are still the reasons that you carry guns; to scare your fellow citizens? The President has said that the government is open to providing opportunities if you return to the folds of the law, it will take care of you, it will give you new lease of life.)

Former rebels Alyas Ronron from Boliney, Abra and Alyas Lipat/Sayap from Balbalan, Kalinga pledged allegiance to the government during the ceremonial acceptance.

Alyas Lipat/Sayap, a former high ranking official of the KLG Ampis and the Rehiyon Sentro Degrabidad of the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC), expressed gratitude for the assistance they received from the government.

 “Dakkel nga panagpasalamat ko kadagiti ka-sundaluan partikular kenni General Pasia. Manipud ti addaak ditoy ket awan met nariknak nga panagparigat ti ka-sundaluan kanyak nu di ket inted da ti amin nga karbengan karo iti pamilyak,” ( Big thanks to the soldiers particularly Gen. Pasia. Since I was here, I did not feel any maltreatment from the soldiers, instead they gave us all the rights especially to my family), Alyas Lipat/Sayap shared.

 Alyas Ronron, 30,  urged the other rebels to lay down their arms and avail of the with government programs.

“Ti maibagak kadagita kakadwak ket bumaba dan kuma. Nu manggeg kuma dagiti kakadwak dita Abra nga kastuy kuma nga ada ti project ti gobyerno, makita da met nga napintas ti programa ti gobyerno(What I can tell my comrades is come down. If only my companions in Abra would hear and see the good projects of the government),” he said.

With the help of Alyas Lipat/Sayap, 29 high caliber firearms and other war materials were recovered. These include 16 M16 rifles, one Galil, and two arm cache recovered in Besao, Mountain Province; one M14 rifle, seven M16 rifles, one M653 rifle, M203 Grenade Launcher, two improvised anti-personnel landmines, a hand grenade, Icom radio, bandoliers, 47 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, and 400 rounds AK47 rifle ammunitions found in different parts of Ifugao and Mountain Province.

 Alyas Ronron who was part of the Agustin Begnalen Command of the KLG North Abra of the ICRC also voluntarily surrendered one M653 rifle.

The two former rebels will undergo processing for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and will receive livelihood assistance and firearms renumeration.(JDP/JJPM-PIA CAR)