CTG official, members surrender in SurSur
In a released press statement, the 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office
chief Major Francisco Garello confirmed the identity of the New People’s Army
(NPA) officer as Grecy Yparraguirre alias Raquel, the secretary of Guerilla
Front 30 (GF30), North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Accordingly, alias Raquel’s husband named Ramil Salazar Queda alias Ben, and
nephew, Robert Arreza Yparraguirre alias Mark, the vice commanding officer and
member of Platoon 1, GF30, NEMRC, respectively, and Bakekor Lauro Masiga alias
Pidok, member of Sentro de Grabidad 16 (SDG16) also surrendered, bringing along
with them the four-high powered firearms composed of the following:
1. one (1) Norinco AK 47,
2. one (1) M14 riffle, and
3. one (1) AR18 rifle attached,
4. one (1) 40mm M203 grenade launcher.
Civil-Military Operations chief of 36IB Captain Reyzander Ga revealed that the
four surrenderees shared their experiences for about five years as part of the
CTGs and the reasons behind returning to the folds of the government.
Accordingly, the decision made by the four surrenderees were due to the
exhaustion from the continuous fighting against the government forces, and the
unfulfilled promises of uplifting the quality of their lives from their
organization made them realized that the hardship they experienced contributed
a lot of danger to their lives. They also admitted that their living conditions
were challenging because they lacked essentials like food, and suffered
emotionally because they were apart from their families.
Meanwhile, 36IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Vincent Viray was grateful to the
four CTGs for returning to the fold of the government.
“Dako ang akong pasalamat nga nakahukom kamo nga motahan sa inyong mga armas og
mobalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno aron matukod ninyo ang inyong pamilya nga
mahatagagn ug maayo ng kinabuhi gikan sa kalisdanan og peligro (I am very
grateful that you have decided to lay down your arms, and return to the the
folds of the government so that you can rebuild your family and give them a
good life away from hardship and danger),” Lt. Col. Viray said.
Colonel Viray further said that the government is ready to accept and help all
those who want to achieve true peace with their respective families, citing
those who are still in the mountains. (NGPB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
