Kalinaw News: Army joins NICA on Community consultations to former 55 CTGs in Aurora

Posted to Kalinaw News (Apr 30, 2022): Army joins NICA on Community consultations to former 55 CTGs in Aurora



BALER, Aurora-55 former communist terrorist groups (CTGs) belonging to 30 New Peoples Army (NPA) and 25 milisyang bayan (MB) who abandoned the communist movement, burned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) flag and pledged allegiance to the government at the covered court of Barangay Marikit in the town of Casiguran, this province on Friday, April 29, 2022.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion said that the activity was the results of the recently concluded Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) Region 3 Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Convergence for local peace engagement and community consultation facilitated by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) region 3 Director Maria Luisa F. de Guzman, the group took their oath of allegiance to the government to help end the local communist armed conflict, they torched the flag of the communist terrorist groups (CTGs).

During the activity, Recto assured the surrenderers and those who will surrender of their safety, saying that the Philippine Army troopers are here to protect them from any harm brought about by atrocities of the NPA.

“I guarantee the surrenderer’s safety. It is much important to be reuniting with families and live peaceful, normal and productive lives. Ang inyong maayos na pamumuhay sa komunidad at hindi na sa bundok,” Recto said.

The battalion commander also said that the 91st IB is always on the support to bring closer the government to the people.

“With this kind of activity, there is progress in peace and unity. Our government is serious in its efforts to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in this province, Recto said.

On the other hand, De Guzman thanked the locals for condemning the CTGs and helping them to attain inclusive peace and development in Aurora.

“This is a result of our community consultation in promoting peace and stability in the province, our campaign against insurgency together with the help of security forces and concerned agencies. I thank all of you for helping the government in its fight against terrorism,” she said.

De Guzman urged the participants to have an organization and officers so that once that they are organize, it will be more easy to bring assistance coming from the government.

“We will help, talk and will address what you need. We urged you to organize and mobilize. Rest assured that the government will do their part to bring hope, bring financial assistance and livelihood so that no one will comes back with the CTGs,” De Guzman said.

Army retired Major General Abraham Claro C. Casis of the office of the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity (OPAPRU) said that the government has always been open for diplomatic communication projecting a peaceful resolution gearing towards ending any form of conflict that may trigger violence.

“Whatever the results of our dialogue, I report it personally to Secretary Carlito Galvez. Pinupuri ko po kayo dahil napaka-safe na ngayon sa inyong probinsiya at marami na ring turista ang dumadayo. Salamat po sa inyong pagdalo. Maliban sa ibinibigay sa inyo ng gobyerno sana isipin din natin ang ano mang magagawa para sa gobyerno,” Casis said.

Meanwhile, APPO Provincial Director, Police Colonel Julio S. Lizardo expressed his sincerest thanks for the reintegration in the government and mainstream society of the surrenderers.

“Bilang kapalit, nais naming ipaalam ang buong suporta ng APPO katuwang ang mga ahensiyang nandirito upang paglingkuran kayo sa abot ng aming kakayanan. Asahan po ninyo na bukas ang aming himpilan para tumugon sa inyong mga pangangailangan na sasailalim sa pagpapatupad ng batas, pagpapanatili ng katahimikan at kaayusan, internal na seguridad at kaligtasang pampubliko.

Patuloy po naming palalawain ang ating samahan sa mga pribadong grupo mula sa iba’t-ibang sector sa ilalim ng tinatawag nating nationa coalition of Lingkod bayan advocacy groups and force multipliers sa ilalim ng E.O.70,” Lizardo said.

He also assured the surrenderers of police assistance among others that will fast track them to live peacefully and happily.

Meanwhile, Ka Baldo, one of the surrenderers who was a former commander shared his unforgettable experienced when he was in the CPP-NPA-NDF operating in the province of Aurora wherein it all resulted to the loss of his family and kin.

“Nung sumama po ako sa kanila ay nasira ang aking pamilya. Ang aking asawa at mga anak ay lumayo ang loob sa akin at nanirahan na sa Mindanao. Hindi ko na mabuo ang aming pamilya. Kaya bilang dati ninyong Kumander ako ay humihiling sa inyo na huwag ng lumaban sa gobyerno. Makipagtulungan po tayo sa kanila at magbagong buhay ng totoo. Mahalin natin ang ating pamilya upang hindi ito mawasak katulad ng nararanasan ko ngayon. Huwag maniwala sa mga panlilinlang ng NPA,” Ka Baldo said.

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

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

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https://www.kalinawnews.com/army-joins-nica-on-community-consultations-to-former-55-ctgs-in-aurora/