22 CPP-NPA supporters in C. Luzon vow loyalty to gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 12, 2021): 22 CPP-NPA supporters in C. Luzon vow loyalty to gov't (By Zorayda Tecson)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – At least 22 members of the MAMBAYU- Alyansang Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon have withdrawn their support from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

Lt. Col. Fitz Macariola, head of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3, in a statement on Friday said the 22 CPP-NPA supporters took their oath of allegiance to the government in Barangay Yuson, Guimba town on Thursday.

He said two teams from the 303rd Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, together with the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC)–Nueva Ecija, Guimba Police Station, 3rd Civil Military Operations, 7th Civil Military Operations Battalion and members of the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT), facilitated the withdrawal of support of the 22 farmers from the terrorist organization.

The activity which was witnessed by barangay officials was highlighted with the burning of the NPA flag and a peace rally.

Last December, 19 members of the same group likewise denounced the leftist group and pledged allegiance to the government.

Brig. Gen. Valeriano T. de Leon, regional director of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3), said through the continuous local peace engagement activities of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police such as information dissemination and situational interview, communist rebels and supporters become aware of the government's programs and the opportunities to change their lives and correct the mistakes they have committed due to deception.

“The effectiveness of the ‘Whole-of-the-Nation Approach to End Insurgency' under Executive Order 70 that institutionalizes the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) being implemented in the region as well as the efforts of Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) have been the contributory factors for the continuous surrender of more active and former members of communist terrorist groups, including their supporters,” de Leon said in a separate statement.

He said that PRO-3, together with all member agencies of the RTF-ELCAC, will continue the whole of sector approach against communist terrorists to achieve peace and national unity.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130458