MATI CITY, Davao Oriental - The 66th Infantry Battalion under the 701st Infantry (KAGITINGAN) Brigade conducted Community Support Program (CSP) in Barangay Araibo, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province that resulted to the mass surrender of the 290 Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) members on December 12, 2017.
Based on the report from LTC Palmer Parungao, the Commanding Officer of the 66th Infantry Battalion, launched a 3-day mass surrender campaign which resulted in the following; 200 male and 90 female UGMO members with 34 low and high powered firearms surrendered broken down to one Carbine Rifle, 4 Cal .45mm pistol, one Cal.22 pistol, 3 Cal 22mm rifle, 6 Magnum 357 pistol, 9 Gauge 12 Shot Gun, 6 Air Gun, 4 Improvise Guns and 1 Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The significant number of surrenderees of the UGMOs dismantled by the CSP Teams of 66IB is a manifestation that the communities will no longer support the propaganda, ideological, political and organizational works of the CPP/NPA/NDF, the same is true with the statement and revelation of the 28 Former Rebels (FRs) who have just graduated the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) at Happy home - a one stop shop facility which was established to cater the psycho-social, socio-economic, legal, security among other immediate needs of a former rebel who choose to return to the folds of the government.It can be recalled that the 701st Infantry Brigade complements the programs of the Happy Home, thru its “Ugnayan Center”.
The Ugnayan Center facilitates the processing of Former Rebels (FRs) and ran a “Deradicalization Program” before they will be incorporated in the Half Way House.A total of 1,820,000.00 pesos worth of cash out of the CLIP program was availed by the FRs for them to start a new life when they go back to the mainstream of the society and live a peaceful and productive life.
The government will also assist the UGMOs thru different interventions like Peace Building Seminar to help them cope with the challenges and equip them with programs and trainings that will enable them to establish conflict resilient communities. Brigadier General Reuben S Basiao, Commander of 701st Brigade in his message, said, “the UGMOs are victims of the lies and deception of the Communist Terrorists who continue to organize and extort the masses in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Areas (GIDAs), your Army thru its Community Support Program will continue to bridge the gap and help the government deliver its basic services and establish an environment that is peaceful and conflict resilient communities.”
Source: 701st Infantry Brigade, PA
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