Former NPA- infested areas now tourism spots

Ridgeview Mountain Resort in Talaingod. The town was once known for the presence of NPAs in its hinterands

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Oct. 26 (PIA) -- Former New People's Army (NPA) - infested areas inside the 10th Infantry Division's area of responsibility (AOR) are now tourism spots, said its commander, Major General Ernesto C. Torres Jr on a radio program held on Oct. 26.

On the regular radio program dubbed as "Kamo ug ang Inyong Kasundaluhan" hosted by Sgt. Julius Bulotano Sr and Police Major Rowena Jacosalem, Major General Ernesto C. Torres Jr, commander of the 10th ID exposed the status of the remaining NPA fronts inside its AOR and the efforts of AFP in helping the living-neutralized NPAs.  

"Ang dating terrorism areas dito sa ating lugar, they were transformed from terrorism to tourism. Because very secured na yung environment natin at napupuntahan na ang mga lugar na to na walang kinakatakutan (The former terrorist-infested areas here were transformed from terrorism grounds to tourism spots. The environment are much more secured and can be visited without fear),” Torres said.

The tourism sprout has become possible due to the dismantling of guerilla fronts and the establishment of people's organizations whose members were former rebels, supporters, and enablers, he added.

"For the past 5 years, from 193 heavily infested barangays, ngayon 12 na lang. From 23 guerilla fronts, ngayon 6 nalang po. Tatlo dito ay yung sinasabi naming weakened guerilla fronts (For the past 5 years, from 193 heavily infested barangays reduced to only 12. There are also 23 guerilla fronts in 2016 which are now reduced to only 6. Three of them are already weakened guerilla fronts),” he said.

"Itong mga people's organization, ang mga miyembro nito ay ang mga former rebels, former members ng UGMO or underground movement organizations at mga supporters din ng mga NPA. Meaning sila yung nagbibigay buhay sa mga operations ng mga NPA. Ngayon through our community, pati narin ang PNP immersions pinapaliwanag sa kanila that there is a government that cares. Para mabigyan sila ng opportunity na makapagbagong buhay (The members of these people's organizations are former rebels, former members of the Underground Movement Organizations (UGMO) and supporters of NPA. It means that they keep the NPAs alive. But now, through our efforts in the communities and the immersions of the Philippine National Police (PNP), we explained to them that our government cares to give them chance to have a new life),” Torres said.

He also mentioned 45 high-valued individuals or NPA top leaders in Mindanao who were neutralized and have surrendered. Among them were "Ka Nante", neutralized on March 2021 and a secretary of the Weakened Guerilla Front 2 (equivalent to provincial governor); "Ka Bosyong", secretary of Weakened Guerilla Front North; and "Ka Lando" who surrendered from being a top leader for 42 years.

Torres assured that all surrenderers will be provided with the things they need to start their lives again in mainstream society.

"Si Marikit nga, yung head ng Guerilla Front 55 na sumurender, malapit na manganak at tinutulungan ng ating gobyerno (Marikit, the head of the Guerilla Front 55 who surrendered to us was helped by the government especially that she's almost due with her pregnancy),” Torres emphasizing all the help the government could give to the former rebels. (PIA XI Davao del Norte/jmda/Ezri M. Coda, Jr.)