BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Upland folk from mountain villages of Calatrava, a town 80 kilometers north here, staged a peace rally denouncing the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) at the Bantayanon Evacuation Center in Calatrava town, recently, the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion said.
The 79th IB’s Civil military officer, Lt. Dansan Camua, said the rally caped the two-day seminar joined in by more than 120 residents from remote villages of Minapasuk, Marcelo, Winaswasan, and Hilub-ang who were taught about the recruitment strategies and illegal activities of communist groups in northern Negros.
Participants of the rally burned CPP-NPA-NDF flags and held up placards calling for an end to the harassment and killing by the rebels in their areas.
Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, Commanding Officer of the 79th IB recognized the support of the Calatrava Local Government Unit in their initiative to end the local communist armed conflicts.
“Our aim in empowering the communities is relevant to prevent the dismantled CTGs resurgence and realize their desires for a lasting peace and development in the Northern Negros,” he added.
