AgSur locals condemn CNTs, affirm support to EO 70

Officer Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste, the government now truly has changed a lot. “Yes, they still fall short at times, but understand that they too aren’t perfect, they too are still in the process of changing the old ways. But I know, and I hope you too could feel that they’re doing their best to provide its people with the help and support they need. We just need to support our government, and never forget to help ourselves too, so we do not add to the burdens being carried by our government,” he said. “Where could you see such government, whom after being betrayed by its people, because they’ve allowed themselves to be deceived by the enemy’s sweet lies, still has the compassion for its people and even give them chances and an opportunity to once again live a normal life? That is what a true government is, and not the ones which you once subscribed to which only destroys lives and shatters futures,” Criste ended. (CMO Officer, 29IB, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte) AgSur locals condemn CNTs, affirm support to EO 70 By 1Lt. Percival Carido P ovincial News

TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur - Residents and former supporters of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) have finally condemned the deception and atrocities of the CNTs and eventually affirmed their support to Executive Order No. 70 during the conduct of “pulong-pulong” held on March 6, 2020, at Sitio Tambo, Barangay Binicalan, San Luis, this province.

Said pulong-pulong was part of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the Philippine Army’s activity with the purpose of informing the locals on the deceptive tactics and propaganda of the CNTs and at the same time bring the government closer to them. This activity also assists in informing the concerned agencies on the identified issues and concerns of the locals which are being exploited by the CNTs in order to agitate them and further join the armed movement.

One of the highlights of the said activity was the conduct of peace rally denouncing the CNTs and manifesting their support to Task Force ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict), empowering the passage

of government programs and initiatives to attain an inclusive and sustainable development in the community. A total of 200 locals consist mostly from Banwaon tribe, attended the said activity which was spearheaded by Barangay Chairman Donie Dique, together with different concerned government agencies. P ovincial News

“Isip usa ka lumolupyo dri sa Sitio Tambo, ako mag-awhag sa tanan nga dili na kita magpailad pa sa mga NPA nga mag ingon nga sila ang sundalo sa kabos, kay kung tinoud man na, ngano bisan isa ka proyekto o programa wala gani sila nahimo ug hinoon sila pa’y mangguba ug magbabag sa mga proyekto nga gihatag sa atoa sa gobyerno diri sa atong kumonidad nga maoy makatabang unta sa atoa para sa atong panginabuhi, ug ngano nga ang mga NPA, makigbahin pa sa atoang gamay nga abot sa atong panginabohi, imbis nga sila ang muhatag sa atua kung tinood man gane nga sundalo sila sa kabos (As one of the residents here in Sitio Tambo, I am encouraging everyone not to be deceived by the NPA who keeps on telling us that they are the soldiers for the poor, because if that is true, why have they not established any project or program? They are even the ones who always hinder developmental projects from the government that are intended for our community, which would greatly help our livelihood. Why are the NPAs are taking advantage and forcing us to give them a share from our small but hard-earned income, instead of them helping us and giving us assistance if they really are the soldiers for the poor),” a certain Jaime said during the open forum.

Municipal Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Ederlina Precioso also condemned the CNTs exploitation of the locals particularly the natives who were the most vulnerable targets of black propaganda and false ideology of the communist against the government.

“Isip inyong IPMR sa lungsod sa San Luis, ginadasig ko kamu nga atong suportahan ang mga programa sa atong gobyerno tungod kay kita gihatagan ug katakos sa kumonidad

alang sa pagpaabot sa atong mga tingog ngadto sa lokal ug national nga panggamhanan.

Ug gani naa tay opisina sa munisipyo para sa mga parehas sa ato nga nitibo nga atong masaligan aron mapaabot nato ang atong mga mulo ug panginahanglan sa labaw nga panggobyernohan. Kay wala’y laing makatabang sa atoa kundi ang gobyerno lamang, dili kanang mga NPA (As your IPMR in the town of San Luis, I am encouraging you to support the programs of our government because we are given the great opportunity in our community to have our voices be heard and raise our concerns to the local and national government. We even have our municipal office

for Indigenous Peoples like us who we could trust and would help us bring our issues and concerns to the national level. Nobody else could help us but only the government and not the NPAs),” Precioso said. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Romeo C. Jimenea, commanding officer of 26th IB, applauded the local populace of Sitio Tambo for realizing the true color and motives of the CNTs. He also commended the local government and other concerned local agencies for their undying support on EO 70 and to the Philippine Army. “The Army welcomes the creation of the task force ELCAC because it will greatly empower the organization through its collaboration with the different agencies in attaining an inclusive and sustainable peace and development. We are very grateful that all of us in the government are doing our best to address and to achieve our common goal,” he stated. P ovincial News

“Insurency is not the sole responsibility of the men in uniform. Rather, it is a collective effort of all government a g e n c i e s to end it. R e m e m b e r that the CNTs are using issues on agriculture, environment, labor and more, in order to agitate the populace. It is but a must to work hand in hand to make EO 70 achieve an overwhelming success,” added Jimenea. (CMO officer, 26IB/PIAAgusan del Sur)