CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga: Ten former members of communist groups and communist front organizations have withdrawn their support from the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and pledged allegiance to the national government.
In his report on Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Cesar R. Pasiwen, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 (Central Luzon), said the withdrawal of support was made over the weekend by one former NPA member, five former members of Anak Pawis, and one each from the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla-Tarlac-Zambales, Milisyang Bayan, Gabriela, and Underground Mass Organization in Bulacan, Bataan, Tarlac, and Zambales.
Pasiwen said the former rebels likewise turned over to the authorities their firearms and ammunition.
He said 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.
He noted that the peace engagement activities of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) being carried out by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army, such as information dissemination, and situational interviews made the former communist rebels aware of the government’s programs and the opportunity to change their lives.
Pasiwen said the RTF-ELCAC-3 would continue the whole-of-nation approach against communist rebels to achieve peace and national unity.
“We encourage other members of the communist terrorist groups to return to the fold of the law, go back to their communities, and have renewed lives,” he said in a statement.
Source: Philippines News Agency
