211 Anakpawis members cut ties with Reds
A TOTAL of 211 members and supporters on Sunday formally withdrew their support from Anakpawis and the communist terror group during a ceremony facilitated by the Taytay Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict at Sitio Pyramid, Bgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal.
The former members and supporters of Anakpaws said they decided to cut ties with the CPP-NPA-NDF after they felt they were being used for militant actions and indoctrinated to hate the government.
Anakpawis, a party list group claiming to represent the marginalized sectors of workers, peasants, fisher folks, minorities, urban and rural poor, and an electoral wing of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, has long been identified by authorities as one of the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines and recruitment ground for its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
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 202nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Cerilo C. Balaoro Jr. hailed the former Anakpawis members and supporters for their brave decision to discontinue their support for Anakpawis.
“Your disaffiliation and withdrawal of support is an opportunity for all of you to tread your own path away from any deception and manipulation by the communist terrorist groups. I also thank the local government unit of Taytay for making this activity possible and for the continuous support and assistance to its constituents. This occasion reflects the level of cooperation among the security sector, the local government units, and the national government,” Balaoro said.
“The military is fighting this long decade insurgency and the government realized that the security forces cannot solve this insurgency problem alone. If we want a better future for our children, we must do our part and work together to end this insurgency that hinders peace and development in our community,” Taytay Mayor Allan Martine De Leon said.
The “returnees” shared their testimonies and affirmed their withdrawal from Anakpawis by mass pledging of allegiance, signing of a peace covenant and burning of CPP-NPA-NDF flags.
