BUTUAN CITY – As a show of revolt, close to 50 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and the Communist group’s local militia ng bayan (MB) conducted a peace rally with the entire village of Kasapa Uno in the far-flung municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur.
The former rebels were also supported by the members of the Communist group’s Underground Mass Organization or UGMO, a political organization of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA, as they conducted their peace rally at the covered court of Kasapa Uno of that same municipality on Wednesday, July 1.
The former rebels and villagers displayed streamers and banners, saying they were revolting against the CPP-NPA, and condemning its acts of terrorism.
With the help of the teams of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion (60th IB), 48 NPA, MB and UGMO members joined the entire village of Kasapa in protesting and declaring that the CPP-NPA as “persona non grata” or unacceptable in their place.
The uprising was also manifested in a resolution they issued that was aimed at condemning the violations of the CPP-NPA of human rights, the killing of their relatives, recruitment of minors, robbery, and arson, among others.
Prior to the peace rally, they attended a three-day peace-building seminar.