By Jennifer P. Rendon
Peace, or peaceful community for that matter, is what around 200 villagers from Miag-ao wanted, as they gathered for a rally on Oct 7, 2020.
Residents of barangays Pudpud and San Jose in Miag-ao organized themselves for the “Let Us Walk Together for a Peaceful Community” activity.
The activity started with an indignation rally against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP–NPA) condemning the group’s alleged terror attacks, recruitment of minors, and massive extortion activities.
Taking the spotlight during the rally was the signing of Oath of Allegiance of residents of the formerly rebel influenced villages.
They also burned the CPP-NPA flag to strongly condemn and withdraw their support to achieve inclusive peace and development in their barangay.
They also released doves as a symbol of peace and unity to reign in the people’s hearts.
Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, said they welcome the move of the residents, who did not have any qualms in vocally airing their sentiments of how the CPP-NPA made their lives miserable.
“The NPAs have been hampering the existence of peace and development, that’s why development is so slow in some areas of the province,” Batara said.
It was gathered that the residents have also expressed that the NPA rebels are no longer welcome and are banned from entering their barangays.
“Their goal is to have a peaceful community and be free from violence and abuses from these lawless elements,” he said.
The occasion saw the attendance of local government officials of Miag-ao headed by Mayor Macario Napulan and personnel from the 61st IB.
To prove how the NPA has ruined lives and communities, former rebel Jimmy gave testimony on his “worst and miserable experiences while in the armed group.”
Jimmy claimed he was made to believe that the government is corrupt and only an armed revolution was the solution to the problem.
Since then, he claimed to have gone through hardship, hunger, and sleep deprivation because of endless walking and hiking in the mountains.
“Ginhimoan nanda ako senaryo, ginsunog nanda ang bagon ni Nismal dyan sa kipot tapos ibantugon nga ako nagsunog darwa kami kabata ko, amo to naging wanted ako sa pulis. Mayad kay may nakilala ako nga opisyal sang 61IB nga brad ko man sa Iglesia kag gindala na ako sa campo kag naghambal ang mga opisyal nga buligan nanda ako,” Jimmy said.
Meanwhile, Napulan urged the people of Miag-ao “who have been a victim of the CPP-NPA; do not be hesitant, do not have doubts, our Philippine Army is here, the local government officials of our town is here, and they are showing their full support so that we can achieve what we aim for.”
He added, “ang akon lang ginapangayo kaninyo, parapet kamo, indi naton masarangan kung mga barangay officials lang, parapet kamo sa banwa kay para manginmarapit man kami sa inyo, ginatinguwaan ko nga magparapit kaninyo. Kay wala nani sang katapusan ang ila nga systema gani tyempo ron dya kag tapuson naton,” he said.
Further, Batara, asserted that that insurgency could not be solved by the military and police alone, thus the need to push for the realization of Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the “Whole of Nation” approach to address the root causes of insurgency.
“I encourage everyone to get involved and be part of the solution. Neutrality and being silent about this issue will definitely favor the tormentor, and not the tormented. Today, I thank everyone for making a bold stand of denouncing the CPP-NPA existence,” Batara said.
