Sarangani, Davao Occ communities lauded for helping in surrender of 5 NPA rebels

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – The military on Wednesday credited “community efforts” in the recent surrender of at least five communist rebels in Sarangani and Davao Occidental.

Lt. Col. Ronnie Babac, commander of the 73rd Infantry Battalion based in Malita, Davao Occidental, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, that village officials played a vital role in the surrender of the five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels this month.

“Five rebels surrendered to 73rd Infantry Battalion through the effort of the barangay officials in our area of responsibility,” Babac said.

The latest to surrender was 19-year-old “Alex,” a member of the Front 71, he said.

Alex, Babac said, had sought the help of Modesto Aban, the village chair of Barangay Tamban in Malungon, Sarangani, and yielded on February 17.

“The continued difficulty they face in the hinterlands also forced them to yield,” he said.

Since 2015, Babac said the military has been using “gentle persuasion” aside from conducting combat operations in a bid to defeat communists in his areas of jurisdiction.

“Gentle persuation” tactics have included engaging parents and relatives of rebels and village officials in dialogues in the provinces of Davao Occidental, Sarangani and portions of Davao del Sur.

“During the dialogues, we ask their relatives and village officials to convince them to surrender,” he said.

The use of what he termed as gentle persuasion, alongside combat operation, appeared to have been effective.

Babac said since January 2015, dozens of NPA rebels have yielded to his unit.

“We continue to conduct combat operations but our dialogues are also bearing fruit,” he said.

Babac said the NPA has been losing support from the villagers because of abuses and extortion activities.

In July 2015, he said officials of the remote village of Datal Anggas in Alabel, Sarangani, passed a resolution formally declaring NPA members as persona non grata.

The villagers had accused the NPA of committing “deception, extortion and other forms of abuses” against villagers and that by barring them, officials said they hoped the excesses would stop.

“Tribal chieftains of the village also joined the signing,” he said.

Babac said village officials had told the military they grew tired of the NPA because the rebels would burden even poor residents with demands for “contributions.”

“The little money they earn from communal farming would go to the rebels because if they did not give in to the demands, they would automatically be branded anti-communists,” he said.

Babac also claimed that fed-up villagers have been helping the military beat the rebels in Datal Angas.

He cited the March clash in the village, which led to the deaths of seven NPA members, including Tolentino Bariquit, the leader of Front 75.

He said villagers have also been helping convince NPA members to surrender amid the peace and development efforts of the Army, which included provision of farm implements.

He said the military has been calling on all remaining NPA members to yield and avail of the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

“We are using gentle persuasion but we do not think twice about using force also if they continue to resist and continue with their abuses against the civilians,” Babac said.  SFM