Army 402nd Brigade confirms failure of NPA to mark CPP’s 47th anniversary in SurSur

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 5): Army 402nd Brigade confirms failure of NPA to mark CPP’s 47th anniversary in SurSur

Col. Isidro Purisima, 402nd Infantry Brigade commander, this province, confirmed that the New People’s Army (NPA) has failed to hold the 47th founding anniversary celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) here on December 26, 2015.

Such celebration, characterized by plenum, has been traditionally held in the province annually for a very long time.

Earlier, 1Lt. Karl Jan Devaras, company commander of the 41st Civill Millitary Operations (CMO) Company of the 4th CMO Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA) based in Barangay St. Christine, Lianga town, this province, issued a press statement in this regard.

The young army CMO chief cited “withdrawal of support” from influenced masses in the province as well as “non attendance of local media practitioners on the day of the celebration.”

“It is believed that several of the CPP-NPA influenced masses opted not to attend the anniversary and have withdrawn their support from the local Communist-Terrorist group due to their continuous abuses and extortion activities,” Devaras pointed out.

Besides, he stressed that “the tangible results of the Bayanihan efforts of the 402nd Infantry (STINGERS) Brigade in partnership with the Local Government Units and other local stakeholders in the pursuit of peace, security and development in Surigao del Sur,” as one of the main reasons to push through with the celebration.

Devaras noted in his statement that “Out of shame and desperation,” Jorge Madlos aka ‘Ka Oris, Mindanao CPP-NPA-NDF spokesperson, “blamed the AFP of orchestrating a threat to the local media practitioners which was allegedly from a lawless armed group.”

He said Col. Purisima “belied the allegation.”

“We will never stop media from informing the public, we respect the freedom of press for it is inherent in a democratic society; after all we are here to defend the democracy of our country,” Devaras quoted the brigade commander as saying.

With this turn of event, Col. Purisima expressed belief “the CPP-NPA in Surigao del Sur is now close to being dismantled,” it was learned.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1741451974168/army-402nd-brigade-confirms-failure-of-npa-to-mark-cpp-s-47th-anniversary-in-sursur