Don’t back leftist partylist groups, brgy officials urged

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 25, 2019): Don’t back leftist partylist groups, brgy officials urged

The 700 barangays captains in Negros Occidental were enjoined yesterday by a former leader of the United Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines not to extend support to what she called “leftist party-list groups”.

Evelyn Bustamante, former CPP-NPA-NDF United Front Committee member and National Party List coordinator in Luzon, who spoke at the Barangay Summit on Good Governance at the SMX Convention in Bacolod City, organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government, exposed the direct connection of the CPP and NDF as the source of manpower, financial and logistics support of the NPA.

"Do not support the leftist party list groups because directly or indirectly, they will support the armed struggle of the NPA", Bustamante was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the 303rd Infantry Brigade, as she mentioned party-list groups allegedly with links to the rebel movement.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who also spoke at the barangay leaders assembly, backed the statement of Bustamante, as he stressed that the CPP-NPA-NDF had been fooling and causing the misery of Filipinos for 50 years now.

Arevalo also reminded the barangay leaders of Memorandum Circular 2018-211 issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government that prohibits the local chief executives from giving support to the left-wing rebel groups.

"Even before the DILG memorandum was issued, the local residents of Brgy Washington, Escalante City, already resolved to present a petition to the city government to stop providing funds and material support to leftist organizations supporting the NPA, and condemned their presence after the government forces clashed with NPA rebels in their barangay in November 16 last year, said Arevalo, who discussed the evils and deception of the CPP- NPA-NDF.

The discussion was also highlighted by a film showing of "Pindoy", an animated video showing the modus of the NPAs in the recruitment of minors.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory2.htm