More villagers in southern Negros denounce CPP-NPA atrocities

Residents from three barangays in southern Negros Occidental were the latest to denounce the atrocities and human rights violations allegedly committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in rites held in their respective communities in the past week.

The condemnation took place during the local peace engagements and rallies facilitated by the Philippine Army ‘s 62nd and 94th Infantry Battalions (IB), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In Hinigaran town, some 200 farmers in Barangay Pilar withdrew their support and condemned the violent acts of the CPP-NPA in a gathering held at the village covered court on March 23.

According to a report of the 62IB today, these individuals are members of four organizations under the Pilar Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Federation Inc. (PARBFI), formerly allied with militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

PARBFI chairperson Jocelyn Noble thanked the Philippine Army and the PNP as well the municipal government of Hinigaran and other concerned agencies for helping them pursue peaceful lives.

“We don’t want to be victimized again. We have realized the importance of being on the government side especially now that we have already availed of government programs,” she added.

Noble said her family also became victim of the CPP-NPA atrocities when they killed her father for refusing to join the armed struggle.

During the years the members of PARBFI were affiliated with KMP, they provided financial, material, and other logistical support to the communist-terrorist group.

To formalize their withdrawal of support from the CPP-NPA, the farmers took an oath of peace before Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo, chairperson of Hinigaran Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC).

They also burned the NPA flag, offered prayers and lighted candles for the victims of atrocities, and released white balloons to symbolize peace.

On March 18, more than 300 residents, including Indigenous Peoples, in Barangay San Agustin of neighboring Isabela town also denounced the 53 years of killings, extortion, recruitment of minors, and destruction perpetrated by the CPP-NPA.

The participants also took an oath of peace administered by village chief Marybell Rendon.

“We appreciate the efforts of the residents of Barangay San Agustin in condemning the atrocities and human rights violations of the CPP-NPA. We are with you in condemning their terroristic acts,” said Maj. Alenel Valles, executive officer of 62IB, said.

On March 15, residents of Barangay Bi-ao also in neighboring Binalbagan town condemned the unlawful killings and other violent acts perpetrated by the communist-terrorist group.

Some 150 villagers joined the activity with placards, withdrawing support for the CPP-NPA members coming to their barangay.

Together with troops of 94IB and personnel of Binalbagan Municipal Police Station, they marched towards the site, where policemen encountered NPA rebels last February 13.

During the clash, Lt. Charles Richard Casalan the station’s deputy chief of police, and Cpl. Julius Tranquillero, sustained minor injuries caused by an explosion while a 15-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)