DavSur town’s former mass supporters denounce communist rebels

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 27, 2020): DavSur town’s former mass supporters denounce communist rebels (By Carina Cayon)

MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur, Nov. 25 (PIA) – More than 50 former rebels and mass supporters of the New People’s Army (NPAs) from three far-flung barangays in Magsaysay town have recently completed a three-day peace building seminar where they have sworn a peace covenant denouncing the communist rebels.

The former members of the underground mass organizations (UGMO) from Barangays Malawanit, Upper Bala and Maibo have undergone the process of de-radicalization in the Peace Building Seminar under the Philippine Army’s Community Support Program.

Ltc. Geoffrey Carandang, commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion, said the PBS aimed at transforming the UGMO into legal people’s organizations and pro-government organizations.

It was also the intention of providing them with livelihood programs and reintroduce government services to bridge the gap between local governments and far-flung communities.

“Walay pag duha-duha. Seryoso na kini, tinod-anay na kini, kinasing-kasing nga pagsuporta sa atoang gobyerno nga ibagsak, palayason ug undangon na ang pagsuporta sa mga CPP-NPA-NDF (Without hesitations. This is already serious, sincere and heartfelt support to our government to topple, oust and end the support to the CPP NPA NDF),” stated Reymond Layal, former NPA commander of a local guerilla unit.

Amid the pandemic, the 39th IB and the municipal government of Magsaysay have pushed through with the seminar at the Barangay Poblacion gym in said municipality on weekend, following the safety and health protocols.

The national and local government offices have also presented their respective mandates and services to reorient the participants of the various government programs.

“Hinay ang atong development, hinay ang atong pagpalambo diri sa mga barangay, sa munisipyo. Tan-awa nang mga lugar na wala na silay problema sa mga NPA, sa mga CPP, kusog kaayo ang ilang mga paglambo (Our development is slow, our progress is slow in the barangays, in the municipality. Look at those areas with no problems on NPA, CPP. Their development is robust,” said 1002nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Ted Dumosmog.

Magsaysay Mayor Arthur Davin has urged for the cooperation of the former rebels and mass supporters in achieving the municipality’s vision to be known not only as rice producing area, but also as vegetable and other agricultural crop producing area.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Information Agency Region XI has presented the BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) during the opening program of the PBS, where the participants expressed eagerness to become bastonero/bastonera or information multipliers when they return to their respective community. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1060244