Filtered By: Topstories
News

Lorenzana stands by claim 4,000 NPAs surrendered since January


Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday slammed the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for claiming that 4,000 New People's Army (NPA) members and sympathizers have surrendered to the government was a "complete hoax."

"The latest statement of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) shows that they are now in a quandary as to how they can reverse their current predicament," Lorenzana said in a statement.

"Because of the government's sincere call for peace, they have lost a lot of fighters lately, and their mass base has rapidly dwindled. Labeling everything that the government has achieved so far as a mere 'hoax' manifests desperation and obviously a futile attempt to discredit our efforts in forging peace," he added.

The CPP called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to end its practice of "red-tagging" and "deceiving and forcing people to pose as NPA surrenderees."

The AFP said a total of 4,356 regular members and supporters of the NPA have surrendered from January 1 to March 15 this year.

"Mulat na po ang taumbayan sa mga kasinungalingan ng CPP-NPA," Lorenzana said.

"How can the CPP claim that most of the surrenderees are not NPA fighters but 'supporters' and even demand a public apology from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when in fact, these former rebels who responded to the government's call for peace include their former regional secretary in Far South Mindanao, their former Regional SDG (sentro de grabidad or fighting unit) commanders in northern Mindanao, and in Surigao, a front secretary in Davao, and a number of their platoon and team leaders, along with their firearms?," the Defense chief emphasized.

Lorenza said the "terrorist" CPP-NPA is the one who should apologize to "these people whom they have deceived, and who have sacrificed their lives and their families because of this deception."

The Defense chief said the numbers are clear and the evidence is overwhelming.

"Several former rebels have returned to the fold of the law because they have seen through the lies and deception of their former comrades," Lorenzana said.

"Wala na po silang ideyolohiyang ipinaglalaban. What's left is an organization that uses the plight of vulnerable sectors to promote their ultimate plan of amassing money through extortion and seizing power for their leaders' selfish agenda," he added.

The Defense chief also called on the public not to be deceived by the CPP-NPA.

"Gagamitin lang po kayo at ang inyong mga komunidad sa kanilang masamang gawain katulad ng pagpatay, pag-kidnap, at pangingikil. Sa huli, kayo din ang kawawa," he said.

He also urged all members of the CPP-NPA to surrender and end the era of violence.

"Sa mga kasapi naman ng CPP-NPA, sumuko na kayo habang hindi pa huli ang lahat. Tapusin na ninyo ang karahasan laban sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Bukas ang kamay ng pamahalaan upang kayo ay tanggapin, kupkupin at kalingain," Lorenzana said.

The Defense chief said that former rebels who have surrendered are living happy lives with their loved ones and getting assistance from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

"Abot kamay na natin ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Kailangan lang nating magkakaisa alang-alang sa ating bayan," he added. —Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT