Masbate villagers denounce terrorism via peace rally

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 17, 2021): Masbate villagers denounce terrorism via peace rally (By Connie Calipay)

Map of Milagros, Masbate (Google image)

Residents and village officials of Bonbon and Matanglad in Milagros, Masbate condemned the communist terrorist group's (CTG) terrorism, deception, and lawless activities during a peace rally held over the weekend.

In an interview on Wednesday, Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said the residents publicly denounced the CTG and vowed to deny the terrorist group any form of support.

“During the activity, protesters brought placards with written condemnations of the CTG's atrocities including their demand to stop recruiting and deceiving the innocent minds of the youth sector,” he added.

Belleza said as a sign of the villagers' refusal to be used by the CTG in its hopeless cause, the rallyists burned replicas of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) flags.

Lt. Col. Siegfried Felipe Awichen, commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) which assignment covers the province of Masbate, said troops are currently conducting intensified Community Support Program (CSP) operations in the said barangays.

“Through CSP, soldiers identify the issues and concerns of the local populace in a certain area before relaying it to the concerned agencies for immediate solution,” Belleza added.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Henry Robinson, commander of the Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB), in a statement, said he is positive that initiatives like these will fuel the government's relentless campaigns towards ending the communist insurgency.

"This is a proof that they can already see with their own eyes that terrorism and insurgency is the main culprit in the snail-paced developments. The CTG can no longer turn the tables and blame the government for being inutile because with our excellent implementation of President Duterte's Whole-of-Nation Approach, quality service is delivered to the public through a more unified effort of every government office," Robinson said.

The military said more peace rallies are expected to be conducted by villagers in Masbate in the coming days as other barangays plan to replicate the activity held in Bonbon and Matanglad.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133871