MEDICAL doctors and nurses of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) treated the captured and wounded New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, military officials said Monday.

4ID public affairs chief Major Francisco Garello said 4ID’s Camp Evangelista Station Hospital (CESH) has even treated at least 9 wounded CPP-NPA-NDF members since January, this year.

He said the NPA members are all female and suffered from bullet wounds and other injuries.

Garello said just recently, CESH provided medical care to a wounded female communist member who was captured by the troops at Sitio Kamaca, Barangay Bontongon, Impasugong, Bukidnon on September 23, 2021.

Garello said the wounded female rebel was identified as Lody Han-ayan Ampildon alias Diane, 18, who was evacuated by Helicopter to CESH on Friday afternoon, September 24, 2021.

She has gunshot wounds in her left leg, right arm, and waist, said Garello.

“There were several NPA rebels already received treatment including major operations from our CESH doctors and nurses,” said Garrello.

He said that some of them were caught during armed encounters and some were abandoned by their former allies.

Meanwhile, 4ID commander Major General Romeo S Brawner Jr., said that the accomplishments were a results of the 8th Infantry Battalion's continuous loud speaker efforts which encouraged civilian residents to cooperate and report resulting Diane's capture.

Diane is a medic of Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) COMPAQ of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and has been with the communist group for 7 months.

Brawner said the call of peace through loudspeaker operations in Malaybalay City September 20, emboldened the populace to report the location of alias Diane to the troops.

It can be recalled that a wounded female NPA leader identified as Mary Joy Arevalo Antiha alias Nikki of Guerilla Front Malayag of NCMRC was also captured along with other 9 members after an encounter with 88IB on September 8, 2021 in San Fernando, Bukidnon.

Garello also said Antiha, 24, resident of Valencia City, Bukidnon has been under the medical care of the CESH doctors and nurses while recuperating from surgery and still on isolation after she was confirmed positive with COVID 19 Delta Variant.

“Dako akong pasalamat sa medical frontliners diri sa kampo ug ang 88IB na wala nila ko gipasagdan gikan pa sa engkwentro. Ang kasundalohan ang nag alsa sa akoa, nangitag paagi matambalan ko,” said Antiha.

“Ug sa ani nako na kahimtang, ang mga nurses pirmi mag assist sa akoa. Mao dako gyud akong pasalamat sa ila,” said Antiha.

CESH Officer-in-Charge Major Ronald C Ancheta said there were already 9 NPA rebels who underwent major operations due to injuries caused by encounters with government troops.

He said that as an officer and a surgeon, he will always provide medical treatment whether they were NPA members in the name of their service.

Brawner also added that efforts are part of the Army’s adherence to the International Humanitarian Law and their commitment to respect the human rights of even those who are considered as enemies of the state.

Alias Diane and Nikki are among the living testimonies of how the Army respects human rights and cares for captured NPA members, Brawner said.

He said it’s a fulfillment on their part as soldiers to see that lives are saved.

Once again, we call on all the remaining communist rebels to return to the folds of the law and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), said Brawner.

“Rest assured that your Army will ensure your safety and provide better opportunities as you transition towards the mainstream society,” he said. (Ben Balce)