AGUSAN DEL NORTE TOWN VILLAGERS DENOUNCE, ABANDON NPA TERRORISTS

By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang

The members of the Milisya ng Bayan (MB) and Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) in Las Nieves town in Agusan del Norte have withdrawn their support from the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) and pledged their allegiance to the government. The withdrawal of support to the CNT movement was done during the mass surrender ceremony conducted on January 21, 2021, in Barangay Casiklan, Las Nieves. The MB and UGMO members decided to abandon the cause of the CNT and return to the fold of the law after the series of peace consultation and dialogues made by the troopers of the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23IB) with the support of the local government unit (LGU) and different line agencies of the government. The series of dialogues started on December 12, 2020, where residents were asked to ventilate the main issues in their communities, especially on the concerns of peace and order and the presence and recruitment of the CNT members in their communities. Five members of MB and 448 CNT mass supporters under the existing UGMO in Barangay Casiklan have withdrawn their support to the communist movement and pledged allegiance to the government of the Republic of the Philippines during the said activity last Thursday. The residents said they could no longer endure the harassment, extortion, and recruitment of the CNT members in their community. Aside from the daily dose of terrorism, the residents said the CNTs blocked the development programs and projects of the government that resulted

in the underdevelopment of their community. The absence of development initiatives, they said, caused privations and poverty among the residents. Alias “Berto”, a former rebel who hails from Casiklan shared his experiences and difficulties when he was still supporting fully the communist movement. “Nag sige ko og balhin ug puy-anan ug kanunay nagdagan dagan ug tago tungod sa kahadlok nga madakpan sa mga kasundalohan. Mao pag abot sa mga sundalo diri sa barangay, nag desisyon gyod ko nga mag surrender na sa sabakan sa atong gobyerno. Dako ang akong kalipay nga ang atong gobyernmo nia na mitabang pagsulbad sa kalisod sa atong barangay. Mao nga magtinabay ug maningkamot kita sa pagsalikway sa mga dautang binuhatan sa mga NPA kay dako kaayo ang kahasol nga ilang gidala sa atong komunidad (I don’t have permanent address to stay, we keep on running, because we are afraid that the miitary will caught us, that’s why I have decided to surrender. I am happy that our government is helping us to start a new life),” Berto said. Provincial Director Rey Cueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Agusan del Norte (TESDA-ADN) witnessed the mass surrender on Thursday and extended his compliments to the residents for reaching such a decision. Cueva said TESDA, in partnership with the 23IB and the LGU, provides support to the residents in the area, particularly in the field of honing their technical skills for increased productivity. “Part of our mandate is to develop self-reliant, resilient, productive, and sustainable communities through the implementation of harmonized and culturally responsive development training programs. TESDA, as the head office on Poverty Reduction Livelihood Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC), in partnership with LGU of Las Nieves and the 23IB, commits several livelihood training in your barangay to uplift the lives of the residents,” Cueva said. Las Nieves Mayor Avelina S. Rosales cited the courage of the residents of Casiklan in condemning the CNT and making a turn to the right path for the good future of their community. “As you chose to start living a new life, I am sure that you will never regret the decisions you made today because in the coming years, you will reap the good fruits of progress and development not only for

your family but including your whole community and our nation. You were just victims of the CNTs who destroyed your future and your families. No one will be responsible for solving our own problems, we need to make a move in order to get away from poverty,” Rosales said. Jerry S. Laurito, the provincial administrator of Agusan del Norte who represented Gov. Dale B. Corvera during the activity also recognized the bravery and resolve of the residents to cut their ties from the terrorist movement and embrace new lives with the government. “This activity is not only for the AFP, PNP, the LGU, and the line government agencies. This activity is designed for you, for the people of this barangay, who wished to live normally and peacefully. Armed conflict is a hindrance to development and progress because it disturbs our daily livelihood activities,” Laurito said. He added that the government is always ready to find solutions to the problems of barangays through the provisions of programs and services. “With the help of TESDA, who works with the 23IB and the LGU, we will develop livelihood projects in your barangay, especially agricultural production in order for you to have a sustainable livelihood and help our government in recovering the status of our economic system. Kay kung walay kalinaw, walay kalambuan,” Laurito said. Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, the commander of 23IB thanked the members of the council of Casiklan for the trust and cooperation they bestowed to the Army and the line agencies of the government. He also commended the local residents for their help in ending the local communist armed conflicts in Casiklan. “For over 52 years, thousands of villagers were seduced by and recruited by the NPA. But what accomplishment or contributions, especially in terms of economic development, the NPA had brought and implemented in Casiklan? Nothing. Wala sila’y naitabang kaninyo sulod sa pipila ka tuig nga pasalig ug pagpangilad,” Paulo said. He emphasized that the 23IB is thankful that finally, the people of Casiklan realized the grand deceit and trickery of the NPA movement. “Dako ang among pasalamat kay gisalikway na ninyo ang mga teroristang NPA ug boluntaryong mibalik sa sabakan sa panggamhanan,” Paulo said.

The mass surrender of the residents of Casiklan will also push down the NPA movement in the area given that they have lost a community where they extort support for food and finances. “The NPA will suffer more from hunger and exhaustion as the people will no longer welcome them in this community. They can no longer extort money and ask food supplies to support their daily needs,” Paulo said. Without the support of the local populace, politicians, business owners, and other supporters, the CNT will eventually die in Agusan del Norte, Paulo emphasized. (CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)