DAVAO CITY — The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) successfully facilitated the mass surrender of the 23 wanted persons, May 10, 2021 at the Malabog Gym, Brgy. Malabog, Paquibato District, this city.
The group includes former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and known sympathizers of the communist movement, Milisya ng Bayan and other underground mass organization operating in Paquibato District.
Most of them have pending warrants of arrest for cases of murder, arson, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, among others.
Davao City Police Director PCol. John Kirby Kraft welcomed the former rebels (FR) and asked them to embrace the law and live as law abiding citizens.
Kraft said the campaign of the government to end the communist movement should inspire them to be pro-active and completely change their perspective towards their own development, as residents from the far-flung villages are now being served through the Revitalized Police Sa Barangay (RPSB).
While Alyas Joey, one of the FRs, expressed his gratitude to the government for helping them surrender peacefully, clear their names of their involvement to the left groups and to help them start anew.
“The presence of our police officers in the mountains reaching out to the community, providing opportunities to our I.P brothers and sisters to improve their lives have opened the eyes of these rebels to realize the deceptive ideologies of the terrorist CPP-NPA and decided to return to the folds of the law,” he said in vernacular,
The recent surrender of the FRs is an offshoot of the RPSB being personally pushed by Police Regional Director B/Gen Fiolmore Escobal.
“This is the outturn of the RPSB Program of our Regional Director, PBGen. Filmore B. Escobal PRO 11 Regional Director, that persuaded these rebels sought by the government to surrender,” he said
The 22 FR are now with police precinct no. 7 (PS7) in Paquibato while one of them was brought to the custody of Philippine Airforce upon court’s order.
The activity successfully pushed through with the supervision of Kraft and PMaj. Marvin Hugos, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PEACE 911 Legal officer, Datu Boyson Anib –IPS Representative, and the Punong Barangays of Paquibato District, Davao City.