'Bumaba at makiisa kayo sa amin', NICA-9 chief asks CTGs

By: Jayson R. Aucensillo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb 18 (PIA) -- National Intelligence Coordination Agency (NICA)-9 Regional Director Camilo Balutan encouraged  the remaining members of the communist-terrorist groups (CTGs) in the region to surrender now and be one with the Philippine government.

“Bumaba at sumurender na kayo at magsama-sama tayong paunlarin ang bansa natin. Maawa kayo sa sarili at pamilya ninyo,” Director Balutan said during the Kapihan na SM City Mindpro Zamboanga held, recently.

[“Come down and surrender and let us work together to develop our country. Have mercy on yourself and your family”]

He noted that the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC)-9 together with the collaborative efforts of the member agencies, have overthrown seven guerilla fronts of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).

“This was made possible during the President Duterte’s term and before it ends, we believe that we could destroy the two remaining NPA guerilla fronts of WMRPC,” Director Balutan added.

The Director also hopes that the remaining members of the CTGs will realize that they have been fighting for 53 years the false ideologies that are not accepted by the majority of the Filipino people.

As the head of the Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster, NICA-9 is looking to intensify the information campaign of the government versus the CTGs propaganda.

“Layunin namin ang tapusin ang mga kasinungalingan ng mga komunistang grupo sa pamamagitan ng paghahatid natin ng makatotohanang impormasyon sa publiko,” Director Balutan said.

["We aim to put an end to the lies of communist groups by delivering factual information to the public”]

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic last year 2021, the agency conducted orientations among government employees (OGE) and to different vulnerable sectors, to provide them awareness on the deceitful moves of the leftist groups.

The SAKM cluster also committed to continue to inform the people of the truth, intensify the collaboration with other clusters as well as to empower vulnerable sectors and shield them from the lies of CTGs.

“We should always be critical of the information received and read,” Dir. Balutan said. (RVC/JRA/PIA9-Zamboanga City)