CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City – Seventy-six members of the underground mass organization Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL)-Bataan chapter withdrew their support to the New People’s Army in a ceremony in Barangay Pentor, Dinalupihan, Bataan last Friday, Dec. 9.
Ka Maxene, a former AMGL member, they will form a new organization free of communist deception and call it Malaya at Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Bataan.
"With our collective efforts and assistance from the government, we hope that this organization we will establish be successful. We will also use it to encourage the remaining AMGL members to return to the government for peace and development," Maxene said.
She said that they were inspired to organize after witnessing the development of former NPA members and supporters who turned into people’s organizations with the assistance of the government in Central Luzon.
To formalize their withdrawal of support to the NPA, they took an oath of support to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict before member-agencies of the RTF-ELCAC 3.
They condemned NPA atrocities, including human rights violations, killing of their relatives, recruitment of minors, extortion, destruction of civilian-owned properties, and exploitation of farmers.
They also burned the AMGL and NPA flags and lit candles as a symbol of unity as they ushered in their call for peace.
Their withdrawal of support with the theme "Pagbawi ng Suporta sa Komunista, Katumbas ay Pagsibol ng Bagong Umaga na Puno ng Pag-asa" coincided with the celebration of Human Rights Consciousness Week.
They received food packs as early Christmas gift from the Dinalupihan Municipal Police Station and Northern Luzon Command.