SOME 143 mass base supporters and former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army yesterday formally turned their back from the communist group and took their oath of allegiance to the government at the Police Regional Office 3 Makatao Activity Center in Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando in Pampanga.

PRO3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. said personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 and other police units led by force commander Lt. Col. Jay Dimaandal conducted a special intelligence operation that resulted in the withdrawal of support of the mass base supporters and former members of the communist terror group.

Dimaandal said the operating units also held a dialogue with mass base members and told them the government’s program in ending local terrorism.

Some of the highlights of the activity were the distribution of sacks of rice from Gapan City Mayor Joy Pascual, giving testimonies of former members, and pledge of support to the government.

Among those who attended the program were Col. Jacob Macabali, executive officer of Area Police Command-Northern Luzon; Niño Anthony Balagtas, regional director NICA 3; Jay Timbreza, CESO V asst. regional director DILG 3; Eunice Shine Meneses, social welfare officer II of DSWD Field Office III; Franz Liam Arabia, spokesperson of KKDAT/ ambassador National Youth Commission for NTF-ELCAC Affairs; Lucia David, GT Skilltech School of Trade and Ptr. Jeremiah R. Abay, RMFB3, KASIMBAYANAN focal person.

“The continuous joint efforts of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) and its persistent campaign against terrorism resulted in the voluntary withdrawal of support from the communist groups. RTF-ELCAC-3 would continue the whole-of-nation approach against communist rebels to achieve peace and national unity,” Hidalgo said.

MASS SURRENDER IN CALABARZON

A total of 126 CPP-NPA members and supporters in Calabarzon region on Wednesday turned themselves over to Police Regional Office 4-A authorities and formally took their oath of allegiance to the government in simple ceremonies held on the same day the NPA marked its 54th founding anniversary.

The mass surrender of the CPP-NPA members and sympathizers was facilitated by officers from the PRO4-A Regional Mobile Force Battalion led by Lt. Col. Agosto M. Asuncion, the Journal Group learned.

The mass surrender coincided with the blessing and inauguration of the Beacon Home for Camp Sakay Youth, which was led by Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay, the Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations and Officer-in-Charge-Undersecretary for the TUPAD program of the government.

A total of 60 Ganap na Kasapi and 66 Kandidatong Kasapi of the CPP-NPA surrendered to the PRO4-A authorities and turned over 17 assorted firearms, 12 explosives, 13 improvised explosive materials and 111 rounds of various live ammunition during the occasion. With Alfred Dalizon

AUTHOR PROFILE

Bernard Galang