PRESIDENT
QUIRINO, Sultan Kudarat --- Five members of the New People's Army laid down
their arms and surrendered to the Philippine Army at Midtungok village in Senator
Ninoy Aquino town at about 4 p.m. last September 2.
Lt.
Col. Harold M, Cabunoc, commanding officer of the 33rd Infantry (Makabayan)
Battalion, said the rebels belonged to
the Platoon Myphone of Guerrilla Front 73 under Ka Macmac.
Among
the surrenderees are Ome Digan, 48; Adot Digan, 30; Misuari Digan, 18; Siale
Digan,16; and Eson Digan, 25. One of the surrenderees is a child warrior Siale,
16, who was recruited in 2015.
"The
surrenderees turned over three firearms, including a Cal .30 M1 Garand, Cal 30
M2 Carbine, and a 40mm M79 Grenade Launcher," said Cabunoc.
Misuari
Digan said he was recruited by Ka Macmac in Tupi Bato village in 2014.
"They
promised me to retake our ancestral lands from outsiders so I joined to fight
for my tribe," said Digan who
converted to Islam after marrying a Muslim girl in Palimbang town. He is among
the trainees who finished a course in a rebel training camp that was seized by
the 33rd Infantry Battalion last August 21.
Eson
Digan was a leader of the NPA's communal farm in the upland village of Sitio
Tupi Bato, Midtungok village.
"Ka
Macmac promised me to erect a school for our tribe but it did not happen. They
kept on asking food from us who worked in the farm. We ended up being wanted
criminals because of our being NPA members," said Eson who has a three-yearr
old child.
The
surrenderees were presented to the local government of Sultan Kudarat to receive the benefits given to former rebels.
Maj.
Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division chief, expressed his condemnation
against the NPA for employing child warriors in waging violent attacks. (6TH ID – MINDANAO
EXPOSE’)
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