Kalinga villagers stage rallies, condemn CPP-NPA-NDF

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 25, 2020): Kalinga villagers stage rallies, condemn CPP-NPA-NDF (By Peter A. Balocnit)

PINUKPUK, Kalinga, Sept. 25 (PIA) - - Saying “enough” of the lies and deception of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), villagers in three communities of this municipality held street march dubbed “walk for peace” against the state enemy.

The peace rally with the theme: “Lakad Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Iwaksi ang Terrorismo at Karahasan,” was staged in Baay on September 22, at Limos on Sept. 23, and in Apatan on Sept. 24. These are NPA less-influenced barangays for more than three decades and are now identified as End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) areas.

Spearheaded by the 50thInfantry Battalion under the unit’s Community Support Program, the series of march rallies was fully supported by the municipal local government unit headed by Mayor Irving Dasayon, barangay officials and sectoral groups.

On their march around their respective villages, they carried banners and streamers denouncing the CPP-NPA-NDF as purveyors of a “useless and meaningless ideology”, burned the CPP-NPA-NDF flag, effigy of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison and images of NPA leaders from Kalinga.

Villagers signed a covenant of support to the Municipal ELCAC Task Force and to the government with three associations organized by the alleged left-leaning Timek dagiti Mannalon ti Kalinga (TMK) withdrawing their connection to TMK and pledging commitment to stay on the side of government.

The Baay Farmers Association, Mannalon iti Limos Urnos Dur-as ken Alluyon, and the Apatan Farmers Convoy Alluyon after understanding the true intent, color and fake ideology turned their back to TMK condemning the group for false hope and promises.

A former rebel from Baay also spoke of his experiences while with the NPA. Stressing the deception of the NPA and its allied organizations, he called for the condemnation of these groups.

Dasayon said the intensified CSP activities, the efforts of Pinukpuk Municipal TF-ELCAC and the support from the community complement each other resulting to the success of this activity against the CPP-NPA-NDF. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1054234