41 former rebel supporters vow allegiance to gov’t
FORTY-one supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Bayambang town formally surrendered and denounced the terrorist group, and pledged allegiance to the national government anew on December 10.
P/Col. Richmond Tadina, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) director said the former supporters were part of the underground mass movement organizations (UGMO) in the province.
“Since Pangasinan has been insurgency-free since 2019, there are no armed groups but there are still the UGMO that support the CPP-NPA and they have withdrawn their support,” Tadina said.
Among those who surrendered, “Jennie”, 62, said a party-list group recruited them in 2016 along with other farmers in the town with a promise to give them land.
“Wala din kami napala. Wala din ‘yong pinangako nilang lupa. Akala namin yong sinalihan namin ay party-list lang para sa election, di namin alam NPA na pala. Sinasama kami sa mga rally. Kami naman sumasama para makapasyal, libre pagkain at sasakyan pero walang pera,” she said.
Meanwhile, as part of the whole-of-nation approach of the national government, the PPPO and the provincial government gave P5,000 cash aid, livelihood aid, seedlings, and other farm inputs to the 41 that surrendered.
They will also be provided training by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for water search and rescue and basic life support.
Tadina added that there are still more in Bayambang expected to denounce the CPP-NPA and withdraw their support.
“It’s a good sign. They have been enlightened by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC),” he said. (Jerick Pasiliao)
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