The eventual crumbling of the communist insurgency was mirrored by the collapse of a so-called shadow government of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Bukidnon after officials and members of the revolutionary movement decided to return to the fold of the law and avail of President Rodrigo Duterte’s integration program.
The Army’s 89th Infantry Battalion (IB) played a key role in dismantling the NPA shadow government operating in two municipalities by engaging the leaders, mostly members of indigenous people (IP) communities in Bukidnon, in constant dialogue.
The 89th IB, led by Lt. Col. Silas Trasmontero, provided the venue for the IP to receive government assistance through the battalion’s Community Support Program, which is in line with the President’s Executive Order 70 that calls for a whole-of-nation approach to end insurgency.
Constant Courting
According to Trasmontero, it took three months of constant engagement with the officers and members of the Komiteng Rebolusyonaryo sa Munisipalidad (KRM) to convince them to join the mainstream society.
The KRM is the shadow government of the CPP-NPA equivalent to a municipal government, with a sitting mayor, vice mayor, department heads, barangay chairpersons and even a chief of police.
The collapse of the KRM came after “mayor” Datu Ernesto Talaytay led other KRM officers, members and supporters in severing ties with the CPP-NPA and returned to the fold of the law.
The dismantled KRM was operating in Barangays Kalagangan, Cabuling, Durian and Matupe in the town of San Fernando, and Barangays Digongan, Panganan and Kiolom in the municipality of Kitaotao.
Those who yielded were composed of 10 regular NPA members, 184 “milisyang bayan,” 10 “kalihiman,” 12 Komiteng Rebolusyonaryo sa Barangay chairmen and 854 underground mass organization members.
They brought with them 10 high-powered firearms, nine low-powered guns, three improvised explosive devices and voluminous subversive documents.
CPP-NPA-free zone
Apart from withdrawing support from the communists, KRM officers and members who belong to the Manobo and Matigsalog tribes of Bukidnon denounced the CPP-NPA and declared them as persona non grata.
“Overall, the KRM has a total membership of 1,060. It serves as a shadow government in the seven clustered barangays of San Fernando and Kitaotao,” Trasmontero said.
In welcoming those who pledged allegiance to the government, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), headed by Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., conducted medical and dental mission in coordination with the local governments of San Fernando and Kitaotao.
School supplies and hygiene kits were also distributed to the former KRM members.
The Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Office held orientations and issued clearances and permits, respectively.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, on the other hand, provided 726 food packs, corn seeds, fruit-bearing tree seedlings, fingerlings and insurance to the 1,360 individuals.
A total of 11,441 persons benefitted from the two-day grand caravan, attended also by tribal chieftains.
Santos prodded all stakeholders, particularly the local government units, to extend their hands to the IP communities that are prone to the influence of the CPP-NPA.
Gov’t presence needed
Going above ground. Former communist top guns in the so-called shadow government of the rebel movement sign their allegiance to government to indicate their return to the fold of the law (right) while composite photo shows the firearms they surrendered (left). PHILIPPINE ARMY PHOTO
“By doing so, we help build up resilient communities that could no longer be used by the terrorist group and Left-leaning organizations as their propaganda tool against the government,” he added.
For his part, Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., commander of the 10th Infantry Division, stressed that the Duterte administration would welcome other people deceived by the CPP-NPA to return to the mainstream society and avail of the government reintegration program.
“We will welcome our brothers and sisters who would want to join the mainstream society and live normal lives,” Faustino said.
Under Mr. Duterte’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, rebel-returnees are given financial and livelihood assistance to start a new life.
Going up in smoke. As a former guerilla of the New People’s Army burns a flag of the communist movement during a ceremony, once solid organizations in so-called NPA-influenced areas are falling apart due to defections. PHILIPPINE ARMY PHOTO
Recently, the Commander-in-chief even distributed house and lots to former NPA rebels in the Davao region.
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This article first appeared on The Daily Tribune.
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