The government is now reaping the rewards of collaborative efforts among member agencies of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to end insurgency in the country.
Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Wilbur Mamawag made the statement following the surrender of nine high-ranking communist terrorist group leaders in Valencia City, Bukidnon recently.
The CTG leaders voluntarily surrendered to the 1st Special Forces Battalion of the 403rd Infantry Brigade on 8 September and turned over high-powered firearms consisting of three M16 Rifles, two AK47 Rifles and one M1 Carbine Rifle.
403IB officer-in-charge Col. Ted Dumosmog said the surrenderees have been longing to get back with their respective families which prompted them to return to the folds of the law.
"Upon surrender, they were made to undergo medical check-ups before being processed at Valencia City Police Station. Indeed, it is fulfilling to assist and see returning misguided brothers reunited with their families," Dumosmog said.
Meanwhile, Mamawag urged the remaining CTG members to follow the same path as the former rebels, and some of them become productive citizens and agents for peace.
"We are now reaping the peace dividends of our convergence efforts under the Task Force ELCAC. We, therefore, encourage those remaining and hardened CTG members to listen to the cry of your left-behind families and to do not hesitate to follow your surrendering companions," Mamawag said.
He added that the government is firm in its sincerity to accept rebels who wish to get a fresh life and acquire new opportunities outside the combat zone.
Since January this year, the 4ID has so far assisted 186 former CTG rebels to transition towards normalcy under the NTF ELCAC's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, with about 196 firearms also surrendered in the same period.