Kalinaw News: Celebration of Peace and Freedom for Former Rebels

Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 30, 2022): Celebration of Peace and Freedom for Former Rebels



People gathered at Almendras Gym, Quezon Blvd, Talomo, Davao City, to witness and participate in various activities detesting the atrocities committed by CPP-NPA-NDF. Said activities were organized by “Ka Amihan” and “Marikit”, which included a Peace Concert that celebrates the freedom of former rebels along with an Information Awareness Drive, and Candle-lighting, all aimed at discrediting the misleading narrative of the NPA in lieu of its 53rd Anniversary. The Peace Concert was attended by a total of 816 former rebels from Davao Region.

As a testament that the NPA’s stronghold is continuously weakening, eight (8) former rebels spoke of their sentiments and shared their outright condemnation of left-leaning and legal front organizations. Among the former rebel speakers were: Crisanta Goc-ong, who pointed out that the delay of progress in far-flung communities is due to the disruptive activities such as burning of equipment by NPA when contractors refuse to give out revolutionary tax; Roeder Paul Tanghal, former secretary of NPA Guerrilla Front 20, who encouraged his co-former rebels to support the initiatives of the NTF-ELCAC to continuously achieve peace prerequisite to sustainable progress; “Ka Macky”, former Commanding Officer of NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 5, who explained that he became an NPA because he wanted to see reforms promised by the leftist organization which never materialized and was only made possible by the government which prompted him to leave the armed movement after seeing that the realization of roads, schools, health centers, and housing programs is already taking place in his community; “Mary Jane”, former political organizer from Davao del Sur, who blame the exploitative nature of NPA for bringing about disorder in communities and recruited individuals; Marlene “Titchie” Bago, former secretary of SRC Davao Occidental, who highlighted the big difference between the celebration in the armed movement anniversary and the first-ever gathering of liberated former rebels, adding that true progress can never be achieved in the armed struggle and calling on the abolishment of CPP-NPA-NDF.

In addition to the former rebel speakers were: “Evangeline”, former medical officer in Davao de Oro, who reiterated that schools are being utilized by LLOs to systematically recruit and deceive idealistic students into their misguided advocacy; “Jhong Monzon”, former political instructor, who shared that after leaving the NPA, he does not live in fear anymore and a number of his former colleagues already want to quit the armed struggle but are still apprehensive because of the extreme brainwashing of NPA leaders that once they surrender, they will either be tortured or killed by the government, which is the exact opposite as testified by “Jhong” himself, and Noel Legaspi, former NPA spokesperson for the Far South Mindanao Region, who vehemently emphasized that real peace can only be achieved when aligned with government efforts and he fully credits the NTF-ELCAC, LGUs, and stakeholders in their combined effort to address the armed conflict resulting in the massive surrender of former rebels.

USec Lorraine Badoy, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson, acknowledged the help and insights of former rebels which are contributory to having a deeper understanding on issues usually employed and perpetrated by LLOs and as a collective and resounding call to finally put an end to the CPP-NPA-NDF’s deception, Mrs. Luisa Espina, member of Hands Off Our Children Movement, expressed her longing for her daughter, Erika Louvaine, who was beguiled to join the armed struggle. As any loved one who longs for a parent, a partner, a sibling, or a child, Mrs Espina remarked that her greatest hope is that on the next celebration of the peace and freedom of former rebels, her beloved daughter will be by her side.

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