Tapaz women village officials condemn NPA’s terror act

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 16, 2021): Tapaz women village officials condemn NPA’s terror act (By Jemin B. Guillermo)

ILOILO CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- Three village officials of Tapaz town in Capiz have joined in condemning the atrocities and false ideologies of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Terrorist.

Lahug Barangay Chairperson Jobelyn Giganto and Barangay Kagawad Rowela Sumaria and Rosel Olido strongly condemned the inhuman activities of the communist-terrorist group in their barangay, said 301st Brigade Civil Military Operations Officer Capt. Hazel Joy Durotan.

The three women barangay officials are all members of their Barangay Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (BTF-ELCAC), Durotan said.

Giganto said the brutal activities of the terrorist organization in their barangay have brought fears and chaos to the residents. She called on the NPAs to stop making their lives miserable.



“Ang pumoluyo nakulba-an kung ano na ang himuon nila. Sa mga NPA, kung ginhimo naman ninyo daya, ginapaabot ko kaninyo nga tama dun nga pag-paantus kanamon nga daw mabuang na kami. Gusto na namon nga mag linong kag magtawhay ya amon nga barangay (The people here are nervous of what they will do. To the NPA, if you are again doing this, we are informing you to stop this suffering for us that would make us go crazy. We want our barangay to be orderly and peaceful),” Giganto said..

On the other hand, Sumaria stressed that the Army helped and supported the people in their barangay in many ways, which was opposite to what the NPAs told them.

She said what they want in their area is peace.

“Mayad tana ang Army nagabulig; tanan nga bagay, support sanda. Kanugon lang sang pagpakaon namon sa inyo kung mag araragi kamo tungod nga nahadlok man kami ka ninyo. Napakaon namon kamo tapos kung hindi kami kakaon gina tao namon karan on namon; tapos amo na ibalos niyo sa tawo di gali (The Army are good because they help; they support in all undertakings. It’s useless that we fed you every time you pass by our house because we are afraid of you. We feed you and we also give you the food that is really for us, and this is what you give in return to the people here),” said Sumaria.

Meanwhile, Olido pleaded for a peaceful community and called on the communist-terrorists to stop their false ideologies and inhuman activities in the barangay.

She said the Army secured their barangay and helped them to have a peaceful community.

“Ginapangabay ko sa mga NPA nga daad untatatan run nanda di a ang inaway kay bukot amo daya ang panan-aw sang military kanamon, kundi kalinungan kag pagbulig sang katawhayan (I am appealing to the NPA to stop the war because what the military want is to help ensure that there is peace),” said Olido.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Marion R Sison, the Commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry (Bayanihan) Brigade, lauded the village officials of Barangay Lahug, Tapaz for condemning the deceptions and atrocities of the NPAs.

He likewise assured the people of Lahug and the peace –loving residents of Tapaz that the Army will not stop helping them achieve a CPP-NPA-NDF free barangay.

“The strong and bold principle of these village officials will be our motivation and inspiration in performing our mandate and duties to protect the communities not only in the municipality of Tapaz but in the whole Panay and Guimaras Islands,” Sison said. (PIA6/Capt. HJDurotan/CMO-301Bde, Philippine Army)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1072463