Saturday, November 23, 2019

16 leaders, members quit KMP, denounce NPA in Zambo Sur town

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 23, 2019): 16 leaders, members quit KMP, denounce NPA in Zambo Sur town


RENOUNCING TIES. Juanito Caramba, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) regional chairperson, and 15 other KMP members announce on Friday (Nov. 22, 2019) their departure from the leftist group and declare the communist rebel movement persona non grata. Caramba is the barangay chairperson of Mansanas, Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur. (PNA photo by Leah D. Agonoy)

JOSEFINA, Zamboanga del Sur -- Sixteen leaders and members of the progressive group, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) - Western Mindanao chapter have denounced the communist rebel movement.

The group, whose members are residents of this town, declared as persona non grata the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and announced that they were formally quitting from the KMP.

The declaration was made during Friday's launch of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), attended by local officials, the military, the police, and representatives of national government agencies.

Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade, said they were delighted to hear about the group’s decision, noting that KMP is "indirectly" connected to the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“There are few (KMP members) who have ties with the NPAs. The others are also members of the CPP,” Nicolas said. “It’s a big thing that we will be working together. We can continue with their goal, we will help them with the programs of the government.”

Juanito Caramba, KMP regional chairperson and barangay chairman of Mansanas in this town, denied that they were members of the CPP-NPA-NDF. They too, he said, have suffered from the exploitation of the communist rebels.

Caramba said they are advocates of the rights of farmers and Indigenous Peoples, and are engaged in the campaign against graft and corruption, large-scale mining operations, abusive capitalists, and terrorists.

“We want peace (to reign) in our communities,” Caramba said, adding that they are often the victims during skirmishes between soldiers and government forces.

Caramba said the NPA has exploited "innocent civilians" in their community "for their personal gain."

He said the other 13 barangay chairpersons of this town have also signed the resolution approved by the Sangguniang Bayan declaring the NPA as persona non-grata.

Caramba said that for years, NPA rebels have employed "terror acts in villages, causing great disturbance on the socio-economic condition of the communities.”

Josefina is a fifth-class municipality with a population of 11,799 as of the 2015 census.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086876

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