More villagers in south Negros rise up vs. CPP-NPA atrocities

From the Philippine News Agency (May 10, 2021): More villagers in south Negros rise up vs. CPP-NPA atrocities (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

CONDEMNATION. Officials and residents of Barangay Linaon in Cauayan, Negros Occidental carry placards denouncing the atrocities and other terroristic activities perpetrated by the CPP-NPA and its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), during a meeting held in the village on Sunday (May 9, 2021). Lt. Col. Arturo Dumalagan, commanding officer of the 14th CMOB, said the villagers have finally realized that after more than 20 years of being members of the CPP-NPA-NDF allied organizations, all they got were empty promises. (Photo courtesy of 14th CMO Battalion, Philippine Army)

Close to 100 residents of Barangay Linaon in Cauayan, Negros Occidental were among the latest villagers from the southern part of the province to condemn the atrocities and deceptions of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF).

Together with members of various sectoral groups, the villagers led by barangay chair Rosalie Delgado came together in a "pulong-pulong" (meeting) on Sunday, assisted by troops of the Army’s 14th Civil-Military Operations Battalion (CMOB).

Lt. Col. Arturo Dumalagan, commanding officer of the 14th CMOB, told the Philippine News Agency on Monday that they help the community gain courage to fight and stop the recruitment of young people from the village, and the atrocities perpetrated by communist-terrorists.

This has been made possible through Executive Order 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte that created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), he added.

During the activity, the participants carried placards denouncing the terroristic activities of the NPA guerillas operating near the village, continuing recruitment of minors and indigenous people, and extortion activities victimizing farmers and fishermen.

The highlight was the burning of communist flags by barangay officials and members of Amlig or Assosasyon Sang Mangunguma kag Mangingisda sa Linaon, previously a front organization of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the village, according to the 14th CMOB.

“Our job as CMO operators is to inform and educate the people that they are being used by the enemy as front organizations without their knowledge,” Dumalagan said.

He said the villagers have finally realized that after more than 20 years of being members of the CPP-NPA-NDF allied organizations, all they got were empty promises and they were just incited to attend protest rallies against the government.

The 14th CMO Battalion’s mobile audio-visual system (MAVS) has been deployed in Barangay Linaon since last year as part of the Army’s community support program.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1139756