BALANGA CITY – A former member of the communist terrorist group (CTG) has chosen to abandon armed struggle and start anew after voluntarily surrendering to authorities at the Hermosa Municipal Police Station in Bataan.
Once part of the Komiteng Tagapagpaganap – Sangay ng Partido sa Platun under the Lino Blas Command of the Bagong Hukbong Bayan, the returnee handed over a caliber 5.56 revolver, a 40mm high-explosive cartridge, and other explosive materials such as a time fuse and detonating cord as a sign of leaving behind the armed movement.
Bataan Police Provincial Office (PPO) Provincial Director Police Colonel Marites Salvadora said the act of surrender is a step toward peace and a chance for the former rebel to rebuild his life.
“The surrender followed an intelligence-driven operation of the Bataan PPO in coordination with other law enforcement units. The provincial police will provide former rebels with opportunities to rebuild their lives, free from violence and extremism, as part of our ongoing efforts to promote peace and security for all Bataeños,” Salvadora emphasized.
She added that the Bataan PPO recognize the courage of those who lay down their arms and reaffirmed their commitment to ensure the safety, rehabilitation, and successful reintegration of returnees into their communities.
The provincial police also appealed to remaining CTG members to surrender and return to the folds of the law, assuring them of government support through reintegration and livelihood programs aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s peace and development agenda.
Authorities stressed that surrenderers may benefit from programs under the government’s whole-of-nation approach, which seek to provide former rebels with sustainable livelihood, education, and other forms of assistance, giving them the opportunity to contribute to nation-building. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)