Three rebels in Leyte surrender in succession to 19th Infantry Battalion

By GINA DEAN-RAGUDO, Samar News.com
July 24, 2011

CALBAYOG CITY  –  Three members of the local communist terrorist movement in Leyte Province laid down their arms and surrendered to the 19th Infantry “COMMANDO” Battalion this month.

LtCol Federico J Tutaan, Commanding Officer of the 19IB said that the surrender of the rebels is a manifestation of the positive effects of the relentless information drive efforts of the battalion in “reaching out to the whole populace” and explaining to them the reformed government programs for peace, security and development. He said that the 19IB has been conducting symposia, teach-ins, lectures and dialogues with high schools and universities, as well as communities down to the barangays and sitios in pursuit of the AFP’s Campaign Plan “Bayanihan” calling for a united effort of bringing peace to the province of Leyte.

LtCol Tutaan identified the three “now former rebels” as Carmelino Lebres Bulfa alias “Jackson,” Arthuro Librano Gamayon alias “Art / Rex” and Berting Codog Eleuterio alias “Bogart / Unaw.”

The three revealed that sometime late June, they jointly decided to end their participation and commitment to the rebel cause and run away from the area, citing several reasons like hunger in the mountains and forests, leadership conflicts as well as abuses by their cadres, lack of supplies and equipment, and overall general discontent for their supposed cause which they all described as “walang patutunguhan.”

Initially they did not think of surrendering to the government agencies like the LGU, Army or PNP. They admitted that all they wanted then was to get away from the local communist movement due to their dissatisfaction on their “mahirap na buhay” and to eventually find and start new lives for themselves.

The three former rebels, from different squads of the “Pingkoy Platoon” of the Front Committee-Leyte of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), revealed that on a pre-set date, they all left their firearms in their respective temporary jungle base (encampment) sites in Albuera, Leyte and without a word just walked away and soonafter rendezvoused in a designated meeting area.

Bulfa and Gamayon thereafter travelled all the way to Liloan, Southern Leyte and boarded a commercial vessel to Mindanao, ending up in Agusan Del Norte. They both proceeded to the home of Bulfa’s uncle and both had started to work in the small farm. Eleuterio went on his own way.

Two weeks after running away from the “kilusan” Bulfa contacted his parents and siblings back in Baybay, Leyte and informed them that he wanted to return to Baybay and surrender to the authorities, particularly to the 19th Infantry Battalion in order to “clear his name and record” and thus live freely along the mainstream of society. The parents then sought the help and assistance of Baybay Mayor Carmen L. Cari who facilitated Bulfa’s return travel and also contacted LtCol Tutaan to turnover Bulfa alias “Jackson” on July 3, 2011.

Upon his surrender, Bulfa revealed his story and added that Gamayon was still in Agusan Del Norte with no friends and relatives. Bulfa also said that he had already told Gamayon about the good treatment of the 19IB towards him and even his parents, to include the sick child of his sister to whom LtCol Tutaan gave financial assistance for medical treatment. Bulfa was also thankful for the financial assistance to his parents, along with rice and canned goods, plus transportation fare. Gamayon was thus convinced to surrender.

Immediately, LtCol Tutaan sent 19IB intelligence operatives together with Bulfa to Agusan Del Norte to fetch Gamayon and bring him back to the Battalion Headquarters in Kananga, Leyte. Gamayon alias “Art” officially surrendered to 19IB in the morning of July 5, 2011.

Gamayon alias “Art” was the one who revealed that he knew the whereabouts of Berting Eleuterio alias “Bogart” and that he personally knew that the latter also wanted to surrender to 19IB. LtCol Tutaan again dispatched the intelligence operatives together with Gamayon to fetch Eleuterio in Sitio Can-Alay, Barangay Buroc, Ormoc City. Eleuterio was found there along with his siblings tilling the soil of the family farm and was overwhelmed to be welcomed by the 19IB troops. Eleuterio alias “Bogart” surrendered at noontime of July 7, 2011. Moreover, he also surrendered to LtCol Tutaan one caliber .45 pistol and one 9 mm pistol with ammunition.

Bulfa and Eleuterio were eventually escorted by 19IB personnel to their respective homes and were given by LtCol Tutaan modest financial assistance as well as food supplies to start their lives over.

In a related development, Gamayon alias “Art” who remained in the Battalion Headquarters eventually felt at ease and at home and thus revealed that while in the “kilusan” he had buried two (2) rifle grenades he had been carrying but had never found a way to use them. Thereafter special intelligence teams from 19IB went with Gamayon to recover the two rifle grenades and were brought to 19IB Headquarters.

Of late, Gamayon has revealed that there were actually five of them who ran away from the “Pingkoy Platoon” and that he will help locate the two others whom he reveals also want to surrender to 19IB.