Residents want NPA, supporters to leave Barangay Washington

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Nov 21): Residents want NPA, supporters to leave Barangay Washington

SOME residents of Barangay Washington in Escalante City, Negros Occidental wanted the New People's Army (NPA) and their supporters to leave the village.

About 800 residents, who attended a symposium at the city gymnasium Monday, November 19, talked about their plan to make a petition to evict the identified individuals reportedly supporting the NPA since most of them are illegal settlers in the area, a press release from the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army said.

On November 16, two suspected rebels were killed in an encounter with the military troopers at the said area. State troopers were conducting clearing operations in the area following the reported sightings of armed men in the village.

About 10 alleged NPA members were reportedly seeking refuge in one of the houses at the said village.
But progressive groups claimed that the presence of police and military in the area was their way of "militarization” to cause fear to the residents, adding that the encounter was fake.

In the course of the dialogue, the residents mentioned that before fleeing the encounter on Friday, November 16, the communist rebels allegedly threatened to behead them if they will report their whereabouts and give other information about them, the press release from the Army said.

The residents also condemned the presence of the rebels and their supporters in the area.

They also urged the supporters to stop helping or accommodating the NPAs in order not to put the residents in harm when armed encounters erupt, the press release said.

Colonel Benedict Arevalo, commanding officer of the 303rd IB based in Murcia town said, “this is a big boost in our campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines–NPA–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as the populace of a CNN bailiwick is now the one condemning and taking actions against the NPAs and their supporters.”

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1775099