TACLOBAN CITY – After years of being terrorized, residents of a conflict-infected area in the hinterlands of Samar found their voice against the communist rebels.

Marty dela Cruz, a former barangay chairman in Barangay Diit, Matuguinao, Samar, said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front changed her once peaceful life into a chaotic one.

In 2010, she had been chosen, along with 10 other individuals, to run in the barangay elections because she was a member of the Batakan Organisasyon Pambarangay (BOP) then.

Dela Cruz was elected but she was made to follow all the activities of the communist rebels such as organizing the people in their barangay.

"We were also told to go to Red areas to help organize the people in the province, and here in the town hall by forming their legal front through a farmers association," she recalled.

She said the NPAs took advantage of the lack of government services and projects in their area by helping develop the copra and abaca industry. They also asked for all the data they have in the barangay.

She became a member of the regional organizations Lamrag Sinirangan and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas under the progressive party-lists.

They were also asked to give part of their meager honorarium and food to the organization.

"I could no longer fulfill my responsibilities because we could not refuse them. There were even times when I was working on the farm and they would bring me to red and white areas in Manila and Cebu," she disclosed.

The rebels also forbade her from joining the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI CIDDS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Despite her huge sacrifice, she lived in terror which prompted her to look for ways to live in peace.

After her term as barangay chairman, she left for Manila to work as a domestic helper due to fear for her and her family's life as residents also decided to refuse to support the NPAs in 2014.

Dela Cruz surrendered to the 19th Army Infantry Battalion in 2019 where she named former elected local officials who supported the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Although could no longer stay in Barangay Diit for fear that she will be killed by rebels, is grateful that somehow, the once NPA-infested area is slowly attaining peace and development with the help of the new administration.

"We did something wrong so we should make things right this time," she said.

She also called on her former colleagues who continue to support the NPAs to surrender.

Mayor Aran Boller gave barangay officials until Feb. 15 to stop providing support to NPA members.

He cited that testimonies by former NPA members will be used against village officials who continue to provide financial and material support to the Red fighters.

"We want development to come in. But how can we start building roads and infrastructure if the contractors and program implementers are afraid to go to your place because of fear," the official told his constituents.

The official also lamented that aside from the slow progress in their municipality due to recruitment and indoctrination of minors and lack of education, among others, some residents who receive aid from the government such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are victimized by extortion by providing food and money to the rebels instead of closing their doors to them.

He noted that at least seven hinterland villages remain threatened by sightings rebels, which are important for the rebels because they are located in the tri-boundaries of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar. These are Barangays Del Rosario, Ligaya, Carolina, San Roque, Inubod, Rizal, and Mahayag.