Kalinaw News: 505 CTG Members and Supporters Withdraw Membership and Support from CPP-NPA-NDF Weeks after Absalons’ Death

Posted to the Kalinaw News Website (Jun 30, 2021): 505 CTG Members and Supporters Withdraw Membership and Support from CPP-NPA-NDF Weeks after Absalons’ Death

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur-In just two weeks, a total of five hundred five members and supporters of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) yielded to the government in Masbate province expressing their strong distaste of the recent heinous crimes committed by communist insurgents.

The mass surrenderers are comprised of one regular New People’s Army (NPA) member; 221 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) members; 95 Militiang Bayan (MB) members; 36 Barangay Revolutionary Committee (BRC) members; 84 Ganap na Samahang Masa (GSM) members; 12 Grupong Pang-organisa sa Barrio (GPB) members; 44 Grupong Balangay (GB); and 12 supporters. They are from the municipalities of Palanas, Dimasalang, Masbate City and Mobo, all of Masbate province.

They surrendered from June 18-28, two weeks after the tragic death of FEU football player, Kieth Absalon and his cousin Nolven caused by CTG’s bombing in Barangay Anas, Masbate City.

Lt. Col. Siegfried Felipe Awichen, Battalion Commander of 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) attributed the continuous withdrawal of support of CTG members and supporters from CPP-NPA-NDF to the effective joint operations of Army and PNP as well as the conduct of Community Support Program (CSP) in the identified guerrilla bases in the 3rd District of the province.

Through CSP operations, residents can openly raise their concerns as well as the underlying issues and problems of their communities to the CSP team which the latter refers to the concerned government agencies for immediate solution.

The CSP is now reinforced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) under the Whole-of-Nation Approach (WONA) which rolls out different programs and projects including the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) which funds several developmental projects like the on-going constructions of the local access roads in Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, Col. Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade believed that if the CTG refuse to stop their terrorism, they will lose all their members who can longer bear the guilt of causing so much devastation to the lives of their victims.

“Napipilitan lang naman ang mga miyembro nila na pumatay at magsagawa ng mga iligal na aktibidad dahil tinatakot sila ng kanilang mga lider. Kaya naman pinupuri natin ang mga surrenderers na ito na naglakas-loob na abandonahin ang CTG at talikuran ang mga karumal-dumal na krimen ng teroristang grupo laban sa mga sibilyan, sa gobyerno at sa bayan,” Col. Almase said.

On the other hand, MGEN GENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of the Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) is confident that positive developments will continue in Masbate after Masbateños witnessed how gruesome CTG can be.

“This is a good indication that if Masbate, a breeding ground of communist insurgency years ago, can take a stand against CTG and achieve this kind of success, the remaining five provinces of Bicol can do so. Furthermore, to the remaining CTG members especially those who are part of the NPA, SPL and MB, follow the footsteps of these surrenderers. ‘Wag ninyong hayaang matulad kayo kay Roberto Emaas na nasugatan sa engkwentro kamakailan lamang tapos iniwan ng kaniyang mga kasamahan hanggang sa tuluyang namatay. Wake up and together, let us unite to make Bicol a peaceful and progressive home,” MGen. Robinson said.

He also encouraged the Bicolanos to support the full-blown implementation of the Whole-of-Nation Approach (WONA) which aims to efficiently deliver basic goods and services to the Filipinos, promote peace and good governance.

Aside from the snowballing of surrenderers in Masbate, conduct of peace rallies and declaration of CTG as persona non-grata in various Barangays and towns continues—a manifestation of Masbateños undying support to the government’s all-out war against communist insurgency.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/505-ctg-members-and-supporters-withdraw-membership-and-support-from-cpp-npa-ndf-weeks-after-absalons-death/