NO TO NPA. Matuguinao, Samar Mayor Aran Boller. The mayor of this conflict-stricken town on Thursday (Feb. 27, 2020) urged the national government to set a deadline for local governments to dismantle the New People’s Army. (PNA file photo)
MATUGUINAO, Samar – The mayor of this conflict-stricken town called on the national government to set a deadline for local governments to dismantle the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Mayor Aran Boller said solving the problem within a timetable would show the sincerity of local government units to support the goal of ending the armed conflict before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.
“Just like when they gave us the deadline in the road-clearing drive, an ultimatum should also be given to us to end this insurgency problem,” Boller told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
“If only I would be given a chance to talk to the President, I will appeal to him to give us ultimatum until December this year,” he said.
Boller said the advocacy to end insurgency should not only be implemented by one town but must be done simultaneously to limit the movements of rebels.
“Why should we be afraid, we are receiving a salary from the government? You’re a useless mayor if you got easily be threatened by rebels,” he said.
Because the national government is seriously ending the armed conflict by 2022, Boller said this is the right time for local officials to exert all efforts.
Wiping out the decades-old insurgency here has been identified as the top priority of the local government.
Boller said development has been elusive for Matuguinao because of the NPA’s presence in villages and their constant threat to residents.
It is a 5th-class town with a population of almost 8,000 people from 20 villages and was only connected to the national road in 2018 after the completion of 21-kilometer Gandara-Matuguinao Road. It was funded by the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process’ Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana).
In the past few months at least 150 former rebels and die-hard supporters have surrendered to local authorities. About 92 of them have already been processed for verification.
The local government offers PHP50,000 for each rebel and their supporter who will surrender before the end of March 2020.
The amount is on top of the cash assistance from the provincial government and from the national government through the enhanced comprehensive local integration program.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095110
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