OVER 500 residents of Barangay Trinidad in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, and Barangay Macagahay in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)–New People’s Army (NPA)–National Democratic Front (NDF).
The residents took an oath denouncing the communist rebels and their extortion activities and recruitment of minors during the Peace Advocacy Symposium initiated by the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) under the 303rd Infantry Brigade and 94th IB under the 302nd Infantry on January 22.
They will also pursue a barangay resolution declaring the NPA leaders as persona non grata.
The said activity came after 106 students residing in the adjacent barangays of Trinidad and Macagahay villages were reportedly influenced by the rebels.
These minors, according to the military, stopped attending classes in January this year, after they were allegedly threatened and misled by NPAs that the military and police forces are after them because of their participation in the rebels’ anniversary celebration.
Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, commander of the 62nd IB, said: “attaining peace is not only the concern of police and army, but the local government units should also actively take part in condemning atrocities and deceptions by the CPP-NPA-NDF.”
Earlier, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, appealed to the parents and relatives of these minors to send their children back to school and never allow them to be used and deceived by the rebels in their revolutionary activities.
On January 18, 120 chieftains and members of the indigenous people in Negros also condemned the NPA’s deception, atrocities, extortion, and recruitment among their members during an activity in Calatrava, Negros Occidental. (GYM)