H E A D Q U A R T E R S 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, PA DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar P R E S S R E L E A S E ___________________________________________________________________ NPA leaders’ plea paves way for the surrender of his son and mass supporters Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar – On June 23, 2013 at 3:00p.m, thirty eight (38) NPA barangay organizing party members and fifteen (15) NPA militia unit members surrendered to Lieutenant Colonel Noel A Vestuir, Commanding Officer of 20th Infantry Battalion. On the same day at 6:00p.m, Jonathan L Moreno, known among the NPAs as @ Baris or Abon, a Team Leader, of an NPA unit in Northern Samar also surrendered to the same Army unit. Earlier, on June 13, 2013, Lemuel and Nida Moreno both NPA insurgents and holding positions as Squad leader and Medical Officer of the NPAs in Northern Samar respectively, surrendered to 20th Infantry Battalion. It was learned that Lemuel Moreno was the leader of the NPA Organizing Committee (OC) that organized the NPA barangay organizing party and the NPA militia unit of Barangay E.Duran, Bobon, Northern Samar. After receiving the AFP Guns For Peace Program remuneration package for the firearm he surrendered during a ceremony on June 23, 2013 held in Brgy Trujillo, Bobon, Northern Samar, he convinced his followers to return to the mainstream and stop supporting the armed rebellion. Learning directly from their leader that the government has programs for them and that there is no reason anymore to rebel, his followers, to include his son Jonathan, heeded his call. An NPA militia unit is composed of armed civilians supporting the NPA in rural areas. It is being utilized by NPAs as force multiplier during conduct of tactical offensives, ambush and even in laying and detonating landmines. These acts are direct violation of provisions under Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Government on March 16, 1988. CARHRIHL prohibits the use of civilians in military field operations and campaigns as well as prohibits children or minors to take part in hostilities. On the other hand, an NPA barangay organizing party is the basic local NPA organization in barangays that are utilized to participate during mass actions or demonstrations. Honorable Jing Celespara, Mayor of Bobon, Northern Samar said that under the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) of Bobon, Northern Samar, upon validation, the NPA barangay organizing party and NPA militia unit of Barangay E.Duran will receive P50,000.00 in a form of livelihood package and P5,000.00 for their leaders. In addition, they are also qualified to avail of the AFP Guns For Peace Program for every firearm they will surrender to the government. Major General Layug lauded Lieutenant Colonel Vestuir and his troops for facilitating the surrender of Jonathan Moreno, the NPA barangay organizing party and the NPA militia unit of Barangay E.Duran. He also acknowledged Mayor Celespara for the LSIP implemented in Bobon, Northern Samar that will benefit former rebels. He said, “I commend Jonathan Moreno, the NPA barangay organizing party members and the NPA militia unit members of Barangay E.Duran for their decision to denounce armed struggle and to instead help in healing the wounds caused by 44 years of armed insurgency. This development shows that concerted effort of the local chief executives, the military and other stakeholders is crucial and necessary to address this problem. The military cannot address insurgency alone, in the spirit of “Bayanihan”, we invite everyone to get involved, as insurgency is everybody’s concern.”
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:33:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015