FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – A total of 27 personalities have cut their support with the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in a simple ceremony held at Barangay Matawe Covered Court, Dingalan, Aurora on October 11.
Lieutenant Colonel Julito B. Recto Jr., Commanding Officer of the 91st Infantry (Sinagtala) Battalion, Philippine Army welcomed said decision and commended their courage to abandon their support with the terrorist organization manifested by their strong support with Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
“I hope that more personalities will cut their support with the CTGs who continue to deceive the people into joining the terrorist organization,” Lt. Col. Recto Jr. said.
On the other hand, Lieutenant Colonel Enrique G. Rafael, 7th Civil Military Operation Battalion, Commander encouraged the 27 personalities to encourage others who are still with the terrorist organization to return to the folds of the law.
Police Captain Emilio dela Torre, Dingalan MPS Chief said that the PNP is grateful for their decision to cut their support with the CTG.
Alias ‘Ka Sonny’, shared his experience of how someone tried to recruit him to join the terrorist organization.
“The terrorist gave me an M16 to protect our farm and later on tried to convince me that I was already in the order of battle of the Philippine Army. Instead of joining, I refused. I told my wife that the terrorists were deceiving us. We were awakened by the fact that the NPA was fooling us and that the government is now helping us,” Ka Sonny said.
Major General Andrew D. Costelo PA, Commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army lauded the decision of the 27 locals in Aurora and said that they are on the right path in pursuing the change they wanted by cutting their support with the CTG.
“Ang pagputol ng suporta ninyo sa teroristang grupo ay simula ng pagkakaroon ng kapayapaan sa inyong lugar. Tuloyang manghihina ang teroristang grupo sa isang lugar kung wala na itong natatanggap na suporta mula sa mamamayan. Kaya naman ang inyong kasundaluhan ay hindi titigil na ipatupad ang aming kampanya upang kombinsihen ang mga natitirang miyembro ng teroristang grupo na magbalik-loob na at bigyan ang kanilang sarili ng pagkakataon upang makapamuhay ng payapa kasama ang kanilang pamilya,” MGen. Costelo said.
