SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Aug. 24 (PIA) - - A high-ranking army official in the Ilocos region urged the surrender of the remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) bandits to the government for the sake of lasting peace.

Brigadier General Audrey L. Pasia, the commander of the army's 702nd Brigade, called on all the remaining NPAs in the region to give peace a chance and to avoid the loss of more Filipino lives due to the continuing armed conflict.

"We are urging the remnants of the NPA in Ilocos to give peace a chance and for them to live a normal and peaceful life with their beloved families. You are still very young and you should not allow the communist ideology to waste your precious lives," he said.

After the successful combat operations in Ilocos Sur, Pasia said the group of Ronnie Garvida AKA Nero, and the reported leader of the Komiteng Larangang Guerilya - Southern Ilocos Sur (KLG-SIS) was already reduced to only six members.

Of the six remnants of KLG-SIS, only three are "original" from their group. They are Ronnie Garvida AKA Nero from Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte; Ernesto B Lucaben Jr. AKA Ashley from Sitio Lingawa, Pidpid, Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur; and a certain AKA Kiko/Lai, the party boyfriend of AKA Maymay who is not an Ilokano.

The three others are recruits and are not Ilokanos, yet sowing terror in Ilocos Sur. These new NPA recruits are identified only as AKA Tom/Dodoy; AKA Solo/Sally; and AKA Dadi/Sapi.

It was reported that AKA Dadi/Sapi was wounded during the encounter in Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur on August 14, 2020.

"They are running, tired and hungry. We call on them to surrender particularly AKA Dapi/Sapi so that we can bring him to the hospital and have his gunshot wounds treated properly," said Pasia.

Meanwhile, Pasia said his troops thanked and welcomed with open arms the seven NPA supporters and Milisyang Bayan members, who surrendered to the army's 81st Infantry Battalion last week with their firearms and Improvised Explosive Device (EID) allegedly issued to them by AKA Guyo, AKA Nero, AKA Junel and AKA Dindo.

"They are the living witnesses of the sincerity, professionalism, discipline, and kindness of our soldiers. They were not harmed contrary to the CTG propaganda that the government forces will kill or harm them once they will surrender, said Pasia.

"We call on the other NPA supporters, MBs and unwilling victims, who are being manipulated to cooperate with the NPAs out of fear, to surrender. It's now the best time to surrender, turn in your firearms, and avail of the government programs to live peacefully with no more fear and apprehension," he added.

"Let's help each other to maintain peace and order in our community," he said.

Pasia also urged the remaining NPA's group in Ilocos Sur led by couple Avelino Cruz AKA Junel from Lubong, Sta Lucia, Ilocos Sur and Alpha Sungay AKA Meal from Barangay Duplas, Sudipen, La Union who is currently acting as KLG SIS secretary; and Jerry Loreto AKA Dindo from Sallapadan, Abra.

"We are asking all of you to surrender now before it becomes too late, and too costly for the Filipinos. No one will win in this battle, we will be all losers to the detriment of our beloved country. If you truly love this country, you must surrender now and give peace a chance!" said Pasia. (JCR/FGL, PIA1)