42 UGMO members withdraw support to CPP-NPA, vow allegiance to gov’t

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 20, 2020): 42 UGMO members withdraw support to CPP-NPA, vow allegiance to gov’t (By April M. Bravo) 

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur, Oct. 20 (PIA) – Forty-two members of underground mass organizations (UGMO) in Ilocos Sur withdrew their support to the New People’s Army (NPA) and pledged their loyalty to the government in a ceremony held at the Barangay Hall of Cadacad here on October 15.

According to 81st Infantry Battalion (81IB) Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Rodrigo Mariñas Jr., majority of the 42 UGMO members are from farmer and women sectors.

“It is alarming to know how the NPA exploited and deceived our farmers and women in the countryside and used them to advance their political interest. But the deceived people are now awakened and have severed their ties with the bandits,” said Lt. Col. Mariñas.

The 42 are composed of two Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL); 20 from Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid (PKM); 15 from Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA); and five from Kabataang Makabayan.

The ceremony was officiated by Narvacan Councilor Zalady Clarin, who chairs the committee on peace and order.

Earlier, 25 UGMO members in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur also withdrew their support from the NPA.

The Commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, Major General Alfredo Rosario Jr. welcomed the 42 former members of the UGMO and called on other members to relinquish their affiliation with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA.

“The continuous withdrawal of support of UGMO members in Ilocos Sur is a manifestation of weakened NPA mass-based support that will eventually lead to the collapse of the group in the province," said Maj. Gen. Rosario.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Audrey Pasia PA lauded the joint efforts of 81IB and 69IB in the implementation of the Community Support Program in the barangays that led to the withdrawal of support by the former UGMO members.

"The implementation of the Army's program in the communities is crucial as we aim to save more people against the deception and exploitation of the bandits. Aside from that, we are also preventing their criminal activities in the community," said Brig. Gen. Pasia. (JCR/AMB/PIA Ilocos Sur)


https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1056527