91 former NPA supporters pledge allegiance to gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2024): 91 former NPA supporters pledge allegiance to gov't (By Jason De Asis)

COMMITMENT OF SUPPORT. A former supporter of the New People’s Army (NPA) signs a commitment of support to the government's peace efforts in a ceremony at the Aurora Trading Center Compound, Sitio Setan, Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora on Sept.27, 2024. He is one of the 91 former supporters of the communist terrorist group in the province who have pledged their allegiance to the government. (PNA photo by Jason de Asis)

BALER, Aurora – The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion on Monday said 91 supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Aurora province have officially declared their withdrawal of support to the communist terrorist group and pledged their allegiance to the government.

In an interview, Lt. Col. Aries Quinto, acting commanding officer of the 91st IB, said a ceremony for the group’s withdrawal of support took place at the Aurora Trading Center Covered Court here last Sept. 27.

Apart from signing the oath of allegiance to the government, he said the group, who hails from the towns of San Luis and Maria Aurora, also burned the replica of the NPA flag, which signifies their abandonment of the terrorist communist group.

“The gathering is part of the participants love and loyalty to the government, as they have awakened from the lies and deceptions of the terrorist rebels that sow terror in the community,” Quinto said.

“They ended support for the rebel groups to maintain lasting peace and development in Aurora. A clear manifestation that the Whole of Nation Approach, or E.O. 70, was implemented successfully in coordination with the local government units, and other civic clusters successfully facilitated the group’s withdrawal to the NPA with their formal reintegration into the community.”

He also thanked the government agencies and security forces efforts to maintain peace and development in the province.

These include the regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace and Reconciliation and Unity.

He also acknowledged the continued full support from the Aurora Police Provincial Office and the local government units.

Meanwhile, Maria Aurora Mayor Ariel Bitong said a large number of projects are ongoing for his constituents – including the concreting of roads, construction of barangay roads, farm-to-market roads, and multi-purpose buildings, among others – with the help of Aurora Rep. Rommel Angara.

In a separate statement, Ka Danger thanked the government for the continued support and help for former rebels like him.

“I am one of the living FRs who testify that the government is sincerely rebuilding our lives. I visited far-flung areas to inform the public that our government is doing its best to help us,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234404