TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart yesterday turned over to Major Gen. Mario Chan the two top NPA leaders who surrendered earlier to the provincial government after long-drawn negotiations.
Nicart said he had been negotiating, in coordination with military and police authorities, the surrender of the two: Marvin Deo Capones (alias Saga or Red), vice commander of the NPA's provincial operational command, Eastern Samar Provincial Party Committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, and his wife, Gelita Capones (aka Daisy or Onan), medical officer of the same group.
The governor said this was his first break in his support of the anti-insurgency problem in Eastern Samar, including the surrender of these rebels to the government.
Nicart said he initiated the surrender of the NPA couple as part of the government's Internal Peace and Security Plan-Bayanihan. "Of course it will come from the LGUs as the led agency in the campaign against insurgency because without our support, walang patutunguhan ang kampanyang ito," he said.
Chan, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, thanked Nicart for working out the return of the couple to the folds of the law. He said the IPSP-Bayanihan is successful because local leaders commit and support the military's efforts in winning peace.
Marvin, a native of McArthur town in Eastern Samar, and his wife Gelita, of Oras town also of the same province, have decided to abandon their armed struggle for the sake of their 8-month-old child. "Being in the revolutionary movement, we encountered much difficulty in fighting against the government," they told The FREEMAN.
"Aside from hardship, the future of our family and our child is uncertain, so we decided to come out in order to live a normal life again", the couple said in a press conference after the surrender rites.
Top officials of the 8th ID present during the press-con were Col. Virgilio Espineli, assistant 8th ID commander, Col. Romeo Labador, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade, Lt. Col. Hermilo Demafiles, commander of the 14th Infantry Battalion, and Sr. Supt. Manuel Cubillo, provincial police director of Eastern Samar.
Military officials said the surrender of NPA leaders in Eastern Samar was a big blow to the revolutionary movement, and showed the futility of their continued struggle.
The 8th ID's conduct of sustained combat operations in its entire area of responsibility has kept the communist terrorists on the run, thus preventing them to launch major tactical offensives. The full support of the police, the local leaders and other stakeholders, has also reduced the capability of the NPA to gain the hearts of the masses, said Chan.
"Peace could be attained if our brothers (NPA) would just heed our call of giving up their revolutionary struggle. There is no happiness and satisfaction derived from killing NPA rebels, only desperation. The real sense of fulfillment comes in embracing former rebels back to the folds of law and help him become productive citizens of the country," said Chan.
The Capones couple are now in custody of Gov. Nicart who pledged the rebel returnees financial and livelihood means to start their new lives as responsible citizens of the community. – THE FREEMAN