From the Visayan Daily Star (Sep 19, 2019): 2,500 NPA allies to surrender
The Philippine Army expects the mass surrender of 2,510 allies of the New People’s Army, who will join the 3-day Northern Negros Peace Summit, also in line with the commemoration of the Escalante massacre on September 19.
Capt. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, yesterday said that the former NPA members from the towns and cities in northern and central Negros, will be among the participants in the peace rally in Escalante City, that will end on September 21.
Pancito said the peace summit is a convergence of efforts of the local government units in northern Negros, the academe, the religious sector, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and former rebels, among others, that aims, not only to commemorate the Escalante Massacre, but also to mark a new journey towards the attainment of the desired genuine peace and progress.
The three-day peace summit will be highlighted by a series of activities, including a medical mission for former rebels, giving tribute to the Escalante Massacre victims, issuance of statements of apology from government sectors and former NPA rebels, surrender of firearms, oath of allegiance by ex-rebels, and other supporters.
Stressing that the event is not about forgetting the Escalante massacre, Pancito said that it will also serve as a peaceful venue for reconciliation of the various sectors, former rebels and families of the massacre victims who agreed to move forward by working together to realize a common vision of a violence-free and progressive community.
He added that the three-day peace summit aims to deliver a message of awakening to the CPP-NPA and their allies, that the masses want to move on from the sorrows and miseries brought about by the bloody armed struggle.
Twenty persons died during the Escalante massacre on Sept. 20, 1985, as Negrenses were about to mark the 13th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/September/19/topstory6.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.