SOME 80 residents of a small community in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro gathered to denounce the atrocities of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, local police officials said on Wednesday.

The residents including persons with disabilities, senior citizens and members of the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo joined the indignation rally saying they were tired of the rebel activities in Barangay Waygan in Mansalay municipality, said Police Regional Office 4-B director Brigadier General Joel B. Doria.

Denouncing the continuing NPA recruitment activities and their reported atrocities, the protesters called for an end to the decade-long deception, extortion and harassment of the local communist movement, particularly their effort to recruit indigenous people to their ranks.

The residents also showed their full support to all efforts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Members of the PNP Special Action Force’s 105th Special Action Company, the Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Mobile Force Company, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Mansalay Municipal Police Station assisted the local residents during their protest action against the rebels.

Brig. Gen. Doria said the indignation rally showcased the unwavering determination of the community to uphold peace and reject the destructive actions of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“We stand firmly with the residents in their condemnation of the atrocities committed by this terrorist group. Their active participation in the NTF-ELCAC program is commendable, demonstrating their commitment to a safer and more secure society,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Doria also announced the surrender of four NPA members to the local police last week.

Two of the four identified only as ‘Ka Pet,’38; and ‘Ka Gelinda,’32, yielded to members of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Palawan Police Provincial Office in Sitio Cabangaan in Bgy. Samariñana in Brookes Point, Palawan.

The 3rd identified only as ‘Ka Ramero,’ a 43-year old former supply officer/courier of the NPA movement operating in Northern Palawan surrendered to the 2nd PMFC in Sitio Bagto in Bgy. San Nicolas in Roxas municipality on the same day.

The fourth, , described only as a 43-year old member of a communist front organization in Palawan turned himself over to police authorities in Tanabag, Puerto Princesa City on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Dorias said that the surrender of the four was the result of their continuing effort to reach out to NPA members in the region to yield to the government and avail of the enhanced Comprehensive and Local Integration Program that will allow them to live a normal life and help find jobs to feed their families.

The four are now under the custody of the local police while their E-CLIP application papers are being processed, the official said.