Friday, April 12, 2019

Mt. Province town residents denounce NPA presence

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 12, 2019): Mt. Province town residents denounce NPA presence


Around 5,000 residents of Tadian town in Mountain Province join the peace rally condemning the atrocities by the terrorist group, New Peoples Army. The town was recently rocked by the encounter between government security forces and NPA members at the boundary of Bauko and Tadian. (Photo courtesy of PROCOR-PIO)

More than 5,000 local residents of Tadian town in Mountain Province staged an indignation rally, denouncing the presence of the terrorist group, New People’s Army, and asking the group to leave the town.

Tadian mayor Anthony Wooden said the peace rally staged on April 9 coincided with the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan (day of valor).


The indignation and peace rally, themed “Unity for a Peaceful Community, Condemn Insurgency”, was led by residents who carried their placards denouncing the presence of NPA in the province and use of anti-personnel mines that victimized government troops and traumatized the towns folk.

“They should leave Tadian alone as a peaceful town. They should not disturb us and our community which is just starting to progress,” Wooden said on Friday.

Wooden said it was the community’s decision to hold the peace rally to condemn the NPA’s presence and for disturbing the town's peace.

Members of the local government unit, religious sector, non-government organizations, students and national line agencies who joined the rally marched from the town proper to the Tadian Central School open gymnasium, where they held a brief program.

Last March 29, an encounter ensued between government troops and NPA members at the boundary of Tadian and Bauko towns, traumatizing residents. A police officer was killed and nine others were injured when an anti-personnel mine (APM) planted by the fleeing NPA terrorists exploded during a pursuit operation by government troops following the March 29 clash.

Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PROCOR) regional director, Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, said the residents aired their concerns for their safety and security after the March 29 encounter.

“This only proves that they are not pro-people because in employing landmines, not only uniformed forces are exposed to danger but the civilians too,” Dickson said, quoting one of the residents who spoke during the program.

Dickson said the rally aims to appeal for a genuine and lasting peace within the community.

“This is a clear manifestation that the community of Tadian and Bauko are volunteering themselves to denounce the NPAs’ presence, activities and atrocities of the bandits”, he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1067128

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