By Liezle Basa Inigo
FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Eighty-one members of the Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid (LMB) in Macamias, Guimba in Nueva Ecija have withdrawn their support for the New People’s Army (NPA).
In a report from the Seventh Infantry Division (7th ID), LMB was a farmer organization working under the cloak of the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka (PKM), an underground movement affiliated with the NPA.
The LMB members who withdrew their support for the Communist group was led by Jose Gamay.
Gamay was reportedly involved in the activities of the Larangang Gerilya sa Patag 1 (LGP1), a notorious organization formerly led by Freddie Daileg, alias Polad, who was killed in a joint law enforcement operation by Army and Philippine National Police (PNP) last December 2019 in Quezon City.
The 7th ID report also said Gamay decided to end his support for the NPA upon realizing that the Communist organization did not look after the best interest of the farmers. Instead, they were only used to foment discontent among farmers, and even used them to hide armed comrades whenever government troops were conducting operation, thereby, endangering their lives.
"Your Army, through the guidance and system emplaced by the National Task Force - End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will whole-heartedly help facilitate the surrender of all CPP-NPA members and supporters who wish to return to the folds of the government for them to receive the benefits due them," said Col. Andrew D. Costelo, commander of the 703rd Brigade which has direct control over the 84th Infantry Battalion.