FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – The Army returned yesterday here the rescued graduate of the University of the Philippines who joined the New People’s Army to his parent.
Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo, the Commander of the Army s 7th Infantry Division, together with a local government unit official and a representative from the local Department of Social Welfare and Development, handed over Emman Tan to his parent in front of the headquarters building of 7ID.
“The Army hopes Emman all the best,” said Costelo to Tan s parent. “I hope he can now take advantage his credentials on community development degree from UP to have a better life after this sad experience from joining the NPA.”
The parent, who went to Ifugao last Tuesday looking for her son, was informed by the local Army unit based in Kiangan, Ifugao that Emman was transferred in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija for security reasons.
Emman was rescued by the local Army troops from a series of armed clashes with the NPA in the hinterlands of Ifugao last May 30. According to him, he voluntarily surrendered to the military after escaping from an actual encounter between the Army and his NPA comrades in Barangay Namal, Asipulo, Ifugao.
“With the help and kindness of the Army troops, I was rescued from an encounter in the hinterlands of Ifugao,” said Emman, also known as Bagins in the communist armed group.
Emman is a former member of UP Anakbayan in 2012 and got his Bachelor of Science degree on Community Development from UP Diliman in 2016. He is also an active member of Concerned Artists of the Philippines since 2019.
Emman is still facing possible legal charges from his acts. The local prosecutors from Ifugao and the Army legal officers are processing the required legal documents on this matter.
Based on local records, a total of 28 students or graduates from different colleges and universities who joined the NPA were killed in armed encounters with government security forces as of February 2022. From this number, 18 are from the University of the Philippines.
Photos and other pieces of information are withheld per request of the parent and pending legal procedures.
“In the spirit of ending the local communist armed conflict, we hope that this peace gesture will inform the small remaining members of the NPA here in Luzon that the Army is willing to facilitate their return back to their normal lives,” said Costelo.
