TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Aside from advocating surrender of rebel foot soldiers, Cagayan Police Provincial Office (CPPO) is urging the public to stand up against the communist New People’s Army.
CPPO Director Police Senior Superintendent Warren Gaspar Tolito said it is time for people to be serious in repelling and dispel fear on the rebel group. “For quite a long time, may takot yung mga tao pero pag tumayo na sila diyan at seryosohin na yan [at] seryosohin natin yung mga NPA, [hindi] na tayo matatakot diyan,” he told Forum on Monday, February 6.
“We end fear factor na matagal nang iniinject ng mga NPA sa buhay ng mga tao. Palaging tinatakot yung mga tao. So yun yung advocacy na ginagawa natin,” Tolito added.
Cagayan police are currently conducting police operations with a recently-finished operation in Gonzaga town.
Tolito said Cagayan police will level up and identify members soon. CPPO also assured intensive police operation and combat operations with the military against the “terrorist” group.
Meanwhile, the police provincial director said they are still convincing foot soldiers who, they believed, were recruited merely on the basis of issues and social conditions.
“[Yung] mga mahirap [at] hindi nakapag-aral [na recruits] ay yan yung kinoconvince natin na mag-surrender dahil hindi naman ideologically-ignited ang mga yan eh. Out of their ignorance or propaganda ng mga politically[-inclined kaya] na-convince silang sumama, only to find out that they are on the wrong foot kumbaga,” Tolito said.
Tolito said the provincial government is ready to give 100 slots for work surrendering rebels. He added that the government is more than willing to give them jobs according to their qualifications and level of education.
In September 2017, some former rebels from Santo Niño received P65,000 financial assistance from the provincial government and the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
“Yun yung gusto nating makuha na matulungan natin sila. We have now the time to guide them and their families para makabangon din dun sa kung anong kalagayan din nila,” Tolito said.
Meanwhile, the police director called rebel leaders sowers of “rebellious mind [and] rebellious heart against the government,” adding that the police can no longer change their minds.
Last June 2017, Tolito survived an ambush by communist terrorists in Gattaran. Northernforum.net
