Kalinaw News: Displace families escape from CTG atrocities; receive aid from the government

Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 15, 2022): Displace families escape from CTG atrocities; receive aid from the government

CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela- “Pinipilit po kami ng mga NPA na sumama sa kanila. Tinatakot nila kami at hina-harass. Kaya para maprotektahan ang aming mga pamilya minabuti na lamang namin na umalis muna sa aming lugar upang hindi na kami malapitan pa ng mga NPA,” cried alias Noel as he shared their experience on the atrocities of the Communist Terrorist Group in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan.

According to alias Noel, 44 families including his own from Sitios Tagcar and Cabungag have run away from the CTGs because they don’t want to give in to the demands of the terrorist group. “Minsan na rin po akong nagpagamit sa mga NPA dahil sa takot ko sa kanila. Pero ngayon po, nagdesisyon akong poprotektahan ko ang aking pamilya laban sa kanila. Kaya nagpapasalamat din ako sa ating kasundaluhan na lagi pong nandyan at nakaagapay sa aming mga nasa liblib na lugar.”

He also said that since February 09, 2022, they have been hiding from the CTGs and made a temporary shelter in the riverside of Barangay Isca, Gonzaga. On February 13, they were fetched by the personnel of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Sta Teresita and were brought to Barangay Mission. The Barangay Officials have put up a billeting area for the locals.

On February 14, 2021, the said residents celebrated Valentine’s Day together with the pillars of the government. Through the Whole-of-Nation Approach, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 02 facilitated the distribution of family food packs and cash assistance to the 44 displaced families. The Local Government Unit of Sta. Teresita, 98th Infantry Battalion, and the 501st Infantry Brigade also helped in distributing said assistance.

LtC Abraham M Gallangi Jr., Battalion Commander of 98IB pledged to the residents the tight security that the troops will provide to protect them from the danger of the terrorist group. “Desperado na ang mga teroristang NPA dahil sa pagkonti ng kanilang mga miyembro. Kung kaya, nananakot at pinupwersa nila ang mga residente na sumama sa kanila. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa naging matapang ninyong hakbang na lumayo sa teroristang grupo. Asahan ninyo, na kasama ang buong sektor ng pamahalaan, kayo ay aming poprotektahan.” As an action, the troops are now currently conducting Focused Military Operations against the CTGs in the area.

The residents will be staying in their billeting area until the troops have cleared their community from the presence of the CTGs.

Meanwhile, MGen Laurence E Mina, Commander of 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army warned the remaining members of the CTGs not to tamper with the innocent civilians just for their selfish interest and advocacies. “We value the lives of everyone. So, I am warning these members of the CTGs to return to the folds of the law if not, we will hunt them down and make them pay for their atrocities. We will end their atrocities against the people. We will protect our people at all cost.”

[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/displace-families-escape-from-ctg-atrocities-receive-aid-from-the-government/