A New People’s Army (NPA) couple on Father’s Day reunited with their two-year-old daughter after they surrendered to military authorities on June 19, in Claveria, Misamis Oiental a military official said Monday.
The said reunion was made possible through the joint effort of the personnel of the Army’s 58th and 8th Infantry Battalions who spent their Father’s Day away from their families just to ensure the success of the reunion of the former NPA rebels.
Army’s 4th Infantry Division public affairs chief Captain Al Anthony Pueblas said the three NPA members who surrendered were identified as aliases, couple Dina and Dino, and a certain "Jegs."
Pueblas said the couple opted to surrender because of their desire to take care of their daughter away with them for almost three years.
Hunger and hardships in the mountain are just part of the reason why they returned to the folds of the law, according to Pueblas.
“Pagka human ug panganak gi dala namo ang bata sa bukid pero pagkatapos sa unom ka adlaw gikuha ni Ka Jane sa Kalasangan sa Sitio Mahagwa, Barangay Hagpa ang bata”, said alias Dina.
Pueblas also said the couple denounced the inhuman indoctrination of the NPA wherein a couple of members of the NPA give up their responsibilities as parents to be able to devote their time to the organization.
“Dako kaayo akong kalipay nga nakauban ug nakita nako akong anak karun adlawa,” the father (Dino) said adding that they are now happy and ready to provide parental love which deprived of them during the revolution against the government troop.
Pueblas said the couple with yielded two high-powered firearms, such as AK47, and an M653.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Army’s 58IB commander Lt. Col. Ricky L Canatoy, urged the remaining NPA rebels in the mountains to come down and lay down their arms.
“Your Army is always open and ready to help and assist you to be with your families and live a peaceful life. Stop wasting your time in fighting you wrong ideologies,” said Canatoy.
Pueblas said the couple is in the custody of 58IB while waiting for their enrolment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). (Ben Balce)
