CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Feeling the heat of the intensified anti-insurgency campaign conducted
by the military in the areas of Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, San
Jorge and Catbalogan, a 52-year old member of the communist New
People’s Army (NPA) came down to surrender to the authorities
Wednesday.
One identified by his
comrades as Ka Gilbet, a resident of Brgy. San Nicholas, San Jose de
Buan, an interior town in Samar, and a member of the Barangay
Organizing Party (BOP) of the CPP-NPA’s Central Front-Samar 1
operating in the said town, surrendered before the Samar Police
Provincial Office (SPPO) led by Supt. Asdali Idja Abah.
According to Ka Gilbet,
the NPA rebels are now experiencing hardships in areas where the
military conducted an intensified campaign to wipe out insurgents,
particularly the towns covered by the 34th Infantry Battalion.
Ka Gilbet said that
the rebels are now suffering from shortage of food supplies since
collection of revolutionary taxes are affected due to the presence of
the military in these areas.
The newly-surrendered
rebel likewise informed that his former comrades are now on the run
for fear of the military who are sweeping the hinterlands of
Samar.
He recalled how he was
persuaded to join the Revolutionary Movement way back in 1996 by a
certain Serafin Pacimos (known by his comrades as Ka Yamby and from
where the Serafin Pacimos Command was derived), promising good future
for him and his family once the armed revolution succeeds.
But since then he was
not able to witness what the revolutionary leader promised except the
life of constant fear experienced by his family.
"Sumurendir ako kay
gusto ko matagan hin mahimyang nga kinabuhi ngan maupay nga
kabubuwason an akon pamilya (I surrendered because I want my family to
have a peaceful life and a good future)," he said.
Ka Gilbet narrated he
traversed the mountains of San Jose de Buan to Las Navas down to
Catubig and Catarman last Saturday just to surrender to the police
authorities at Samar’s capital.
He brought with him
two fragmentation grenades and a .38 caliber revolver with 5 live
ammunitions which was issued to him by the leaders of the Dalugdog
Platoon, a unit under the Arnulfo Ortiz Command.
