CAMP MAJOR SATURNINO DUMLAO, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya – A 58-year-old married farmer and former CTG member (non-PSRTG listed) from Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, voluntarily withdraw his support to the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and expressed his allegiance to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on August 6. Joint operation conducted by personnel of 1st Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Mobile Force Company (NVPMFC) in coordination with Ambaguio Police Station, facilitated the surrender of a.k.a Arnold and his renunciation of support to the CTG. During the initial interview, Arnold disclosed his involvement with the CTG dating back to 1998 when he was recruited after a meeting at Brgy. Vista Hill, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. He recounted his training in combat operations and raid at Sitio Ginamgaman, Brgy. Dulli, Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, as well as a planned attack in Sitio Dinagat, Nalungtutan, Nagtipunan, Quirino, in 2005. In 2008, Arnold decided to leave the group during a training session in Sitio Bagtong Tubo, Brgy. Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, and went into hiding in Sitio Ugaw, Brgy. Labang, Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya. Due to escalating encounters in the municipality in 2010, ARNOLD chose to lie low until now. He sought to surrender to ensure his safety, vindicate his name, and support the government’s efforts in ending insurgency. He is currently undergoing custodial debriefing and documentation to facilitate his proper disposition and ensure appropriate support for his reintegration into mainstream society. Col. Camlon Nasdoman, provincial director said that the accomplishment underscores the continuing commitment of NOVO COPS to seek peace and stability by encouraging former insurgents to lay down their arms, reintegrate into society, and support government initiatives that promote peace and development within the province.      

11 former rebels received E-Clip assistance LEGASPI CITY, Albay — DILG Albay Provincial Office in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay released the DILG-Administered Package of Assistance to the Former Rebels (FRs) under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to eleven beneficiaries at the Albay Provincial Capitol, Legazpi City, on August 7, 2024 DILG USEC. Marlo L. Iringan, CESO III graced the activity with his presence together with DILG R5 ARD Jhoaden G. Lucero, CESO IV, and DILG Albay Provincial Director Ray B. Caceres along with the Albay Provincial E-CLIP Committee led by Albay Governor Atty. Edcel Greco Alenxandre B. Lagman. A total of P896,000.00 was awarded for the immediate, livelihood and reintegration assistance for the FRs. The Provincial Government of Albay also gave financial assistance to the rebel returnees prior to this activity. The E-CLIP is one facet of many strategies of the government to obtain just and lasting peace, social transformation, and inclusive development by catering to individuals who surface and signify interest to return to the folds of the law and become productive citizens of the society.  

By MLQuising, Albay PIO LEGASPI CITY, Albay — Tiniyak ni Governor Edcel Greco AB Lagman na katuwang ito ng bawat Albayano sa paghahanap ng solusyon sa matagal ng problema sa suplay ng kuryente sa lalawigan. Sa kanyang mensahe, binigyang-diin ng opisyal ang pagsusumikap ngayon ng lalawigan para makahanap ng pangmatagalang solusyon sa nasabing problema. Kabilang dito ang nakatakdang Renewable Energy Summit ngayong Setyembre kung saan inaasahan ang pagdalo ng mga stakeholders at investors mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa na maaring makatulong na maisakatuparan ang pagiging renewable energy hub ng Albay sa taong 2030. “Seryoso po ang problema asin mga issue manungod sa kuryente, bako man kita bota ta ako mismo, halos uro-aldaw nakaka-ekspiriyensya ki pagpuro-palsok nin kuryente, asahan nindo na sa mga maabot na semana, partikular ngonyan na Agosto, igwa kitang Renewable Energy Summit. “ Importantihon po na maski sa ley, na an National Government Agencies an naghahanap nin solusyon sa mga problema, as your Governor, I took it upon myself na an problema ninda, maging problema ko man, ta ini po problema kan gabos na Albayano,” pahayag ni Lagman. Maliban dito, nais rin ng gobernador na hindi lang agaran kundi pangmatagalan na solusyon ang mailatag para sa problema ng Albay sa kuryente. “Muya ko tabi makisumaro saindo na tawan ini nin solusyon, agaran buda long term ta ini po talaga perennial na problema sa Albay pero kaipuhan ta tabi nin sarung governor ma-involve sa arog kaining problema sa pagtaong solusyon ta haluyon na ining problema, it has been pestering for the past two decades and it’s about time that we really make sure na pag tayo po ay pumasok dito, handa tayo with the right intervention, the right plans, and giving the right information to the people ta bako po ini simpleng problema, its a problem that everyone deals. Asahan tabi nindo na ipaglalaban ko an karapatan kan gabos na Albayano sa maray, predictable asin efisyente na kuryente sa bilog na probinsiya.” Matatandaan na ito rin ang unang inaksyunan ni Lagman sa kanyang pag-upo noong December 1, 2022 dahil sa naka-ambang province-wide blackout sa Albay na inaasahang mangyari ng Disyembre hanggang sa katapusan ng Enero 2023 kung saan nakipagtulungan ang opisyal sa NEA at San Miguel Power.        

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga- Three  former rebels yielded to authorities and 10 supporters withdrew their support to the CTGs between August 6 and 9. Brig.Gen.Jose Hidalgo,Jr., said that a 48-year-old former rebel surrendered to police authorities in Tarlac on August 7, identified only as “Ka Gerry,” the individual voluntarily turned in a homemade Caliber .38 revolver and five live rounds of ammunition. Meanwhile, on August 6, a former member of the UGMO, linked with the Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Tabing Dagat, turned in an improvised firearm known as “Deposporo” and voluntary presented himself to authorities in Aurora. Also on August 6, a former member of the Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP Bataan-Zambales), under Ka Arlan Command, took an “Oath of Allegiance” to formally renounce insurgency. The surrender was facilitated by the San Fernando City Police Station, 302nd Mobile Company, and other supporting units. The individual handed over a revolver, six live rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, and detonating cords. Relatedly, 10 Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid (LMB) members withdrew their support from the Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) on August 9. The withdrawal occurred at the 2nd PMFC 3rd Forward Operation Base in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Additionally, on August 8, a joint operation led by the 91st Infantry Battalion, alongside the Aurora Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU), Police Intelligence Unit (PIU) Aurora, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 3, and the Maria Aurora Municipal Police Station, successfully unearthed a hidden armaments cache believed to belong to Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) in Barangay Dikildit, Maria Aurora. The operation resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and other items such as four(4) M76 grenade rifle rounds with bullet traps, one MK2 fragmentation hand grenade, six non-electric blasting caps, four sticks of dynamite, and various ammunition, including a magazine for an M16 rifle, empty shells, and live rounds for calibers .22, .45, and 5.56mm. In addition to the weaponry, the excavation also revealed non-military items, including two pairs of black boots, a silver wristwatch, three black flashlights, a book titled “Promoting Indigenous Knowledge for Food Security,” and a tarpaulin bearing the logo of Katribu, an Indigenous people’s advocacy group. These coordinated efforts across various provinces in the region show the government’s commitment to fostering peace and encouraging former rebels to reintegrate into society, contributing to the broader goal of ending local communist armed conflict. Moreover, this discovery of armaments is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of CTGs in the region. We continue to urge local communities to report any suspicious activities through hotline numbers 09175562597/09176235700 or to the nearest police station that may lead to the dismantling of insurgent operations and promote peace and security in Central Luzon,” Hidaldgo stated.      

By Danny Estacio TIAONG Quezon -About 1650 sector of near-poor, they are workers receiving minimum wage are recipients of the Ayuda Para  Sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP), a new program of the national government, received cash assistance during payout at Tiaong Convention Center and Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort on Thursday, Aug 8, here. The AKAP is in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, House of Representatives under the leadership of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Deputy Speaker David Suarez, and ALONA Partylist Representative Anna V. Suarez. Deputy House Speaker Suarez supervised the payout conducted by the DSWD regional office. The 1500 are workers from various private business establishments in this town and the 150 are workers of the Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort. The beneficiaries of the private establishment asked permission from their employers to personally claim the cash assistance of P5000, while Suarez personally came to the resort’s workers of Escudero to deliver the aid. Suarez was welcomed by resort owner Rosalie Escudero who expressed thanks to the government’s gesture in helping the near poor to be imparted on the amelioration program of President Bongbong Marcos. The Quezon solon was accompanied by municipal councilors Maja Escueta, Recrec Baldeo, Jonas Atienza, Rex Bautista, Tom Ilao, and SK president Kenneth Obispo. Suarez advised the recipients to spend the money for family needs at least to lessen the burden on family expenditures. Though the near poor have work but receive salaries under minimum wage and because of increasing prices of basic commodities, their income is being affected and insufficient to support the family expenses, Suarez said.