FRs reveal dreadful experiences with CPP-NPA

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 30, 2020): FRs reveal dreadful experiences with CPP-NPA (By Gideon C. Corgue) 

PAGADIAN CITY, Nov 30 (PIA) - Three (3) former rebels revealed their tragic experiences while in the hands of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the mountains.

In a press conference held recently, CPP-NPA members Pewee, Arkins and PR (not their real names) revealed to Governor Victor Yu and members of the local media their suffering while still in the hands of the CPP-NPA, as well as the recruitment activities and involvement in the legal fronts of the CPP-NPA.

Pewee reported that he was recruited by the CPP-NPA on May 10, 2001 in Barangay Midatag, Leon Postigo, and upon his recruitment, they convinced him that the CPP-NPA's armed struggle was created because the government failed to provide social and basic services to the poor, which motivated him to join the organization.

But during his 19 years with the group, he noticed that what the recruiter had told him was not true.

"It is not true what the CPP-NPA says that the poor can be freed from their poverty if they join their organization. During the 19 years I have been involved in it, I have experienced a lot of sacrifices. I keep walking in the mountains, I didn't get enough sleep and food and I was far from my family. My family's situation got worse because I left them," Pewee said in the vernacular.

He also observed that there was no fair treatment within their organization because their leaders lived comfortably and were able to send their children to school, while the ordinary members find it difficult to eat on a daily basis and could not send their children to school because they were not given money to pay for their children’s schooling.

Arkins also said that in 2015, after he was recruited by Africia Alvarez, aka Bambam, secretary of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), he was sent to Davao City to enroll at the Community Technical College of South-eastern Mindanao Inc. (CTCSM) and took up the course, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE).

He complained because during his schooling, he was forced by the CPP-NPA to participate in trainings and rallies.

Arkins added that in 2017, he met Sarah Jane Elago, the Youth Party list representative who was one of the speakers as they underwent training in the ‘Liga Skolar ng Bayan’ (LSB), where in her speech, she attacked and tarnished the AFP’s reputation.

He added that in 2019, after the LSB scholars graduated, they were ordered to sign a contract that they render a 5-year return service to the community, but he did not sign because he noticed that under that contract, there was part of it that can be added or replaced.

He also added that while he was in the red area, the CPP-NPA appointed him as Provincial Coordinator of the Makabayan bloc for Zamboanga del Norte, where his appointment paper was signed by Atty. Neri Colmenares, the representative of the Makabayan Party-list.

“I am not lying because I have a document to prove that my appointment paper from the Makabayan bloc was signed by Atty Neri Colminares,” Arkins revealed.

Meanwhile, alias PR said he was recruited in 2010 and became a full-time member of the Kabataan Partylist in 2015, and became vice chairman of the Kabataan Partylist chapter in their barangay in Dipolog City.

“As a member, I was assigned to create other chapters in our neighboring barangays because they wanted to increase the number of chapters in our area,” PR said.

He said that in January 2017, when he arrived at the CPP-NPA camp, he was appointed as a platoon medic in the Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU).

"I gave lecture on health education, provided medical check up and consultation to people and also gave lectures on Pambansang Demokratikong Pamahalaan (PADPA) to recruit members of the organization," PR said.

He also said in 2016, he participated in an electoral campaign in which they campaigned for the Makabayan block: the Kabataan Party List, Gabriela, Women's Party, Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Piston, and two senatorial candidates, Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo and former Gabriela representative Liza Masa.

“We do not do red-tagging but truth-tagging instead. We are the living testimonies, because we are former rebels that used to operate in the red and white areas. We do not deny the fact that the legal fronts have a great connection with the CPP-NPA-NDF,” PR concluded. (RVC/PIA/GCC-Zamboanga del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1060534