Peace rally held in support of AFP, PNP after arrest of suspected rebels

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Hundreds of people here and in different areas in Negros Occidental showed their support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine National Police (PNP), following the arrest of some members of militant groups who were suspected to be part of the New People’s Army (NPA) in series of raids here and in Escalante City last week.

Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the city government initiated the peace rally activity to express their support to the law enforcers who legally applied search warrants at the offices of some progressive groups here.

Familiaran said that as public servants, they are mandated by law to serve the people, adding that “all of us want peace.”

He said that if there’s conflict, it should be settled peacefully by talking openly with one another.

“Kung may problema, puwede man lang pungkuan kag istoryahan. Wala sang dapat mag violate sang law,” he added.

Last October 31, 42 persons were arrested at the offices of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Gabriela Negros at Barangay Bata, National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) office at Barangay 33, and a house at Barangay Taculing.

These persons were already charged last November 4 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Authorities also rescued at the said premises 13 minors who were allegedly recruited by some militant leaders to become “child warriors” of the revolutionary movement.

Although Bacolod has been in the limelight recently for the arrest of more than 40 personalities, Familiaran said the operation was conducted nationwide and it is not only focused in the city.

“This should serve as a wakeup call to all of us especially to the parents for them to strictly monitor the activities of their children to prevent them from becoming victims,” Familiaran said.

Meanwhile, the vice mayor said that the City Peace and Order Council has already passed a resolution for declaring the NPA persona non-grata.

But, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has yet to pass a resolution regarding the same agenda.

Moreover, Valladolid town Mayor Enrique Miravalles, also the president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)-Negros Occidental chapter, who graced the activity, said that the people should not be blinded with the wrong ideology.

“Wala gasugod ang pag bag-o sa pusil. Kinahanglan mangin maayo kita na pumuluyo kag mag upod ta sa programa ka gobyerno,” he added.

With the support of the Negrenses, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) is optimistic that they can put an end to decades-long communist armed conflict.

Rest assured that the government forces will not rest on their laurels to fulfill the people’s will to end insurgency in this part of the country, the Army said in a press statement.

In a press statement, the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros condemned the operation of the state forces, claiming the search warrants were defective and unjustifiable.

NDF- Negros spokesperson Bayani Obrero, said the arrested activists are not members and supporters of the NPA.

“Ang matuod nga sila ang maukod nga nagapamatok sa mga kontra-pumuluyo nga polisiya sang rehimen Duterte. Sila man ang nagapakig-away batok sa mga kalakasan nga ginahimu sang AFP kag PNP sa inosente nga mga sibilyan,” Obrero said.

The group also slammed the Army for the series of raids, which they claimed to be a “black propaganda” of the government.