- GILBERT BAYORAN
The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade has reported that an estimated 3,500 people, including former rebels, participated in the island-wide peace and indignation rallies conducted in the municipality of Toboso and Kabankalan City, both of Negros Occidental, and in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, March 29, to mark the 54th founding anniversary of the New People’s Army.
Capt. Mervin Rosall, 303IB Civil Military Operations officer, said that the participants strongly denounced the atrocities and human rights violations committed by the NPA in simultaneous indignation rallies.
Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez joined the indignation rally in Kabankalan, while Mayor Filomeno Reyes attended a similar activity in Guihulngan.
The rally participants burned CPP-NPA-NDF flags, offered prayers, and lighted candles for the victims of NPA atrocities, and released white balloons to symbolize the call for peace.
Col. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a statement that the 54 years of CPP-NPA-NDF atrocious attacks and human rights violations cannot be justified by any ideology or circumstances.
Edralin also said that they condemn to the highest degree the 54 years of NPA’s violent legacy and existence, where they ruined the future of the recruited youth.
Many children were orphaned due to senseless killings and liquidations of NPA, and their futile armed struggle broke their own families, destroyed and damaged properties, stalled progress, and disturbed community’s peace, he said./GB
