By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
Twenty members of the Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Mamamayan (PLM), a group that supports the New People's Army (NPA), surrendered to the Northern Police District (NPD) on Monday, Sept. 12.
The PLM is a people's organization in poor communities in the Philippines that promotes the right to residence security and other essential social services.
PLM Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) Chapter organizer Jeanny Flojimon shared the activities and programs inside the PLM.
"Alam nila kung anu-ano 'yong kailangan ng mga tao, lalo na sa loob ng Quezon City kasi wala halos pabahay. front nila 'yong pabahay at palupa. So marami sa amin, puro renter, sharer at extended family. Sinasabi maralitang lungsod na kadalasan nakakaranas ng hirap. So isa po 'yon sa naging purpose din namin kung bakit kami sumali sa PLM, so parang ginagamit lang nila ‘yung interes namin na hindi pa namin nakakamit (They know what people need, especially in Quezon City because there is almost no housing program. They used the housing and land campaign to convince us. So many of us are renters, sharers and extended families. They also said that poor cities often suffer from hardship. So that's one of the reasons why we joined PLM, so it's like they're just using our interests that haven't achieved yet)," she explained.
Flojimon said that she, together with all who surrendered, belonged to the PLM Camanava.
"Purpose namin kung bakit nandito kasi pagbabalik loob sa gobyerno at nangangako na di na talaga sasali sa kahit anong aktibidad ng mga organisasyon (Our purpose for being here is to return to the government and promise not to participate in any activity of the organizations)," Jeanny said.
Flojimon also revealed the corruption that exists inside the organization.
"'Yong gobyerno kinakalaban natin kasi may korapsyon, mismong presidente natin minumura namin, sinusunog namin 'yong pagmumukha, pero bakit sa loob ng organisasyon, may korapsyon? (We are fighting the government because there is corruption, we curse our president himself, we burn his face, but why is there corruption within the organization?," she noted.
The members also surrendered their PLM identification cards (ID) and took oath that they would not engage in any organization against the government.