BACOLOD CITY — One hundred thirteen sympathizers of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental have renounced their support to the rebel movement, the Philippine Army has confirmed.
The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental said last week, two groups of rebel supporters — 27 from Barangay Mahalang and 86 from Barangay Buenavista — took their oath of allegiance to the government.
Col. Alberto Desoyo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said in a statement on Tuesday he is grateful for the decision of the people of Himamaylan to stop supporting the NPA.
“The people are starting to realize the true nature and objective of the terrorist organization which is to sow terror and hinder progress,” he said.
Desoyo urged parents to educate their children to avoid the recruitment activities of the CPP-NPA.
The ceremonies, facilitated by the 62nd Infantry Battalion led by its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, were held in Barangay Mahalang on September 10 and in Barangay Buenavista on September 13.
Both rites concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony as a symbolic sign of peace.
The Army said the rebel group’s supporters testified they were deceived by the CPP-NPA and were encouraged to create a people’s organization and to contribute taxes, which later became revolutionary taxes.
This led them and other counter-revolutionary personalities to withdraw support to the CPP-NPA, it added.
Dacoscos lauded the courage of “those who stood up against the terrorist organization and their criminal activities.”
He added that it is the result of the close coordination between the security sector, government agencies, local government units, and the public as well as the efforts on the localized peace talks with the CPP-NPA.
Last month, 18 mass base supporters of the CPP-NPA in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City also abandoned the rebel movement and took an oath of allegiance to the government. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
