By Nanette Guadalquiver/ PNA
BACOLOD CITY — A group of 114 former supporters and militias of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental vowed loyalty to the government in a ceremony held at the Barangay 2 covered court on Monday.
Their oath of allegiance was facilitated by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), which covers the northern part of the province.
Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, commanding officer of the 79IB, said in a statement the participants’ renounciation of support to the CPP-NPA shows that Negrenses have awakened from the lies and deceptions of the terrorist rebels.
“I encourage other Negrenses to end their support to the rebel groups to reach the desired lasting peace and sustain the development of Negros Occidental,” he added.
The 114 participants, including 98 former mass supporters and 16 unit militias, took a pledge of allegiance to the Philippine Constitution before Steven Dronco, local government operations officer of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in San Carlos City.
They are residents of Barangays Quezon, Guadalupe, Buluangan, Nataban and Cod-cod.
The ceremony was witnessed by Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. and Supt. D’ Artagnan Katalbas Jr., city chief of police, and officials from various barangays.
For his part, Valmayor thanked the 79IB for initiating the Community Support Program that provides security and assistance in the delivery of the government programs to his constituents.
Earlier, the 79IB also facilitated the conduct of the oath of allegiance of two groups, which also renounced support to the CPP-NPA, in two cities in northern Negros.
Last February 22, 80 former members and mass supporters of the CPP-NPA pledged loyalty to the government in Victorias City.
The participants are from Barangays Estado and Gawahon in Victorias City; Caduhaan in Cadiz City; Canlusong in EB Magalona; and San Pablo in Manapla.
The following day, 35 persons from Escalante City also expressed their loyalty to the Philippine government.
They included residents of Binaguiohan, Pinapugasan, Paitan, and Dian-ay, who took their oath of allegiance before Pastor Morito Panadero at the battalion’s headquarters in Barangay Bato, Sagay City.
The United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
