Samareños withdraw support to NPAs in peace rally

CATBALOGAN, Samar — Thousands of residents here, most of whom were either former active New People Army (NPA) rebels or sympathizers, publicly withdrew their support yesterday to the underground communist movement operating in this impoverished province.

The jampacked peace rally capped a three-day peace and development consultation seminar spearheaded by various government agencies with local residents. Catbalogeños from all walks of life trooped to the town plaza to denounce atrocities and injustices committed by the rebels.

Army and police elements headed by Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division based here, provided security to the placard-bearing anti-communist rallyists, as they called for an end to violence, which have brought untold miseries to many families.

"We called upon our brothers in the hills to return to their respective families. Enough of the senseless killings.

Active supporters of the NPAs here, also lamented that contrary to the promise of bringing good life to the local populace in exchange for their support, the rebels’  continued presence in their communities have only brought them added miseries.

"Kakainin na lamang ng aming anak, kinukuha pa nila (They even get food that should be for our children)," a 40-year-old mother of five lamented.

Another farmer who joined yesterday’s rally said he joined the NPA several years ago thinking the insurgency movement will bring him a better life.

"Wala namang nangyari sa buhay naming magpamilya. Naging lalong mas mahirap pa (Nothing happened to our families, our lives became even worse)," he said in the local dialect.

Yesterday’s peace rally was the first ever held in this town.

Aside from Catbalogan, local residents from the towns of Calbiga and Hinabangan, also held similar peace rallies.

Samar has been the hotbed of communist insurgency since the early ’80s and the early ’90s. The province has been on the top priority list of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its anti-insurgency operations.