An effigy of CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is burned during the indignation rally in Bontoc, Mountain Province to make a statement that people condemn the NPAs and their atrocities. ( Bontoc MPS photo)
LA TRINDAD, Benguet – More than 70 local government units in the Cordillera recently spearheaded indignation rallies to denounce all forms of violence, terrorism and atrocities committed by communist terrorist groups (CTG).
The indignation rally held on December 26, 2019 was a national simultaneous protest action against the CTGs organized by the LGUs in coordination with the Philippine National Police, non-government organizations, stakeholders, and other cause-oriented groups in time for the 51st anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Together with the different government agencies, religious groups, barangay officials and other sectors, the LGUs held a “walk for peace” and programs in their localities to condemn the presence and atrocities of the CPP – New People’s Army (NPA).
The participants held banners, posters and tarpaulins calling for an end to the “terrorist” activities, extortion, harassment and deception of civilians, as well as recruitment of minors and indigenous peoples by the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front.
In Bontoc, Mountain Province, an effigy of CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison was burned to make a statement that they condemn the NPAs and their atrocities.
Police Regional Office – Cordillera (PRO-COR) Regional Director Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson said the indignation rally was aimed to encourage all the people to support the government in its campaign to put an end to local communist armed conflict.
“In as much as the PNP and AFP are at the forefront in the combat against terrorist groups, the PNP’s role in this mobilization is to ensure that the activities will be carried out peacefully. Many have suffered and countless lives have been sacrificed because of the unlawful acts of these rebel groups. Now, we show through this rally that Cordillerans are united in this cause and that we are dead serious in the fight against terrorism and all forms of violence that affect the lives of the people and the development of our communities,” he said.
Dickson also urged the people especially the youth to educate themselves about the CTGs and not to fall to their deceptive strategies of recruiting new members.
The rally was also in support to the government’s program and efforts to end local communist armed conflict through the whole of nation approach or Executive Order 70 by President Rodrigo Duterte in efforts to end the decades-old insurgency problem in the country by 2020 and attain sustainable peace and development especially in the countryside. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)