BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion reported that 35 victims of New People’s Army exploitation in Brgy. Minapasuk, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, staged a condemnation rally in the barangay on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Gerard Alvaran, 79IB commander, said the 35 villagers, who used to be rebel supporters, affirmed their allegiance to the government, and burned CPP-NPA flags, as a sign of their withdrawal of support to the communist movement.
Marianne Lumanog, who represented Calatrava Mayor Marilyn Era, thanked the 79IB, Philippine National Police, and other partner agencies for bringing peace to the town.
Lumanog also urged Minapasuk barangay residents to stand against the evils of insurgents, adding that the municipal government already made a stand and declared the CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata.
Alvaran said the victims of rebel exploitation have awakened from the deceptive approach and extortion activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF. Their commitment to withdraw support from the armed group is already a bold step towards total eradication of insurgency, he added.*
