Former NPA rebels, gov’t forces celebrate natal day together

BAGUMBAYAN,
Sultan Kudarat – They used to shoot each other in every given opportunity. In
their mind, outsmarting enemies was a priority.

But this time,
soldiers, police and former communist rebels have jointly celebrated their
natal day, an event they never imagined to happen even in their wildest dreams.

Thanks to the
very creative and innovative Army battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel
Harold Cabunoc.

Cabunoc, commander
of the 33rd Infantry Division, said nine birthday celebrants were treated to a
boodle fight, with cakes and grilled fish and chicken, on Sunday in Barangay
Sto. Nino, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat. About 150 persons were guests during
the simple celebration who sang birthday song to the celebrants.

Of the
celebrants for February, three were members of 33rd IB, three were from PNP
Special Action Force and three from former communist New Peoples’ Army rebels
who already surrendered to the government through the 33rd IB.

The main
objective of the joint celebration is to let all and sundry that everybody
wants peace, Cabunoc said, adding that the food for the birthday bash was
courtesy of Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez.

Julito Inion,
village chair of Sto Nino, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, said the event was first
for the village and a very welcome development.

Janita Icel,
23, former NPA rebel, and one of the celebrators, said she never thought of
eating side by side with the soldiers who she considered as enemies.

I decided to
surrender because I realized the cause we are fighting for is going nowhere,
beside we cannot freely move around, Icel said in Filipino.

We are happy
the Army provided our food as birthday gift, she added.

Henry
Balabagan, 38, another returnee, said he was hoping the promise of livelihood,
development in their village and school for their children will be provided, as
promised by the government.

Police
Inspector Kenneth Lumbre, 24 of PNP Special Action Force assigned in
Bagumbayan, said he never thought in his police career that one day he will be
eating together with communist rebels.

Masarap sa
pakiramdam ang ganito (It feels good doing this), he added.

To date, 118
NPAs, mostly from the Dulangan-Manobo tribe, have yielded to the government and
availed of livelihood package.

More are
expected to come down soon and rejoin the mainstream, he said, adding that
pursuit operations continue for 45 other Indigenous Peoples who are still in
the Daguma ranges of Sultan Kudarat. (Edwin O. Fernandez)