SBG to remaining NPAs: Surrender and get govt. support

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, echoed government pleas for the remaining members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to give up with their pointless armed struggle and lead a new life by surrendering in order to get assured government assistance.

In an interview with the media during his visit to Tupi, South Cotababo last June 22, 2021, where he also gave out assistance to displaced local workers, Go rebels who will surrender that he and President Rodrigo Duterte will warmly welcome them should they choose to reintegrate themselves into society.

“Ako, bilang inyong Senador at bilang inyong public servant at bilang Pilipino, alam n’yo ayaw ko pong nagpapatayan ang Pilipino kapwa Pilipino. ‘Pag may namamatay na sundalo, sumasakit ang dibdib namin ni Pangulong Duterte,” said Go.

“‘Pag may namamatay na rebelde, sumasakit rin po ang dibdib namin ni Pangulong Duterte,” he added.

“Tandaan natin, mayro’n din pong mga pamilya ang mga ‘yan na nasasaktan. Kaya sa mga rebelde, mayroon naman pong magagandang programa ang ating gobyerno,” assured the Senator.

“May pinirmahan na po si Pangulong Duterte to encourage po na magbalik loob na po kayo sa gobyerno. Bibigyan ho kayo ng livelihood, bibigyan ho kayo ng assistance. Kung sa tingin naman po ninyo na makakatulong po ito sa inyo, magiging tahimik ang inyong buhay,” he mentioned.

Under the ‘whole of nation’ strategy adopted by the government when Pres. Duterte signed EO 70 that created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in 2018, Go said that prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages to conflict-ridden areas by the government includes the successful re-integration to society of NPA fighters.

The government agencies involved in the NTF-ELCAC provide assistance through various programs dedicated to help the NTF-ELCAC achieve its target goals.

One of them Go noted, is for the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide assistance through cash grants to former rebels.

The agency’s Livelihood Settlement Grant, under its Sustainable Livelihood Program, which is in support of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government, aims to provide financial aid to such individuals so that they can become productive members of their communities, Go explained further.

Go, in his own capacity, has been assisting former rebels who have chosen to rejoin the rest of society. On December 2, 2020, his office sent assistance to 160 former communist rebels in Valencia City, Bukidnon, who surrendered to the government.

Similarly, last March 4, 2021, Go also sent assistance to 896 former rebels coming from various municipalities of the province of Bukidnon during an event in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

Where did the money go?

President Duterte, for his part, said that the intensive and extensive extortion activities of the CPP-NPA that the groups claimed as ‘revolutionary tax’ had resulted to billions of pesos entering the coffers of the party.

At a speech during the launch and oath-taking ceremony of officers of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy support groups and force multipliers at the Philippine National Police Multipurpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, last June 25, 2021, the Chief Executive said the CPP’s ‘Politburo’ (political bureau) or the CPP leadership is earning billions of pesos at the expense of poor NPA bandits.

“The Politburo’s families and members, children are all abroad, enjoying the fat of the land from the Communist Party of the Philippines. ‘Yung mga anak nila (Their children) are studying in Europe, London. Some of them [are] traveling,” he said.

Duterte also cited intelligence reports that “a group” of politburo’s children went to Turkey upon the invitation of the government.

“And yet, their [NPA] soldiers down on the ground are dying sometimes without eating a day or two days,” he said.

“Iyan ang hindi alam ng pobreng kawal ng sundalo (That’s what their poor bandits do not know). And this must be brought to life para malaman nila ang totoo (for them to know the truth).”

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist group by the Philippines, United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (with reports from Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos/PNA).