Anti-communist groups whose members are victims of rebel atrocities, also marked the 37th founding anniversary of the New People's Army on March 29 by holding a peace caravan in Vallehermoso and Guihulngan towns in Oriental Negros, which was participated in by about 1,000 people, the military said.

The peace caravan also coincided with the launching of the 303rd Infantry Brigade's "Oplan Kingfisher", which is aimed at dismantling existing guerilla fronts of the New People's Army in Negros.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said the peace caravan participants, majority of whom came from the upland barangays of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and Guihulngan and Vallehermoso in Oriental Negros, have again denounced the atrocities committed by the New People's Army in Negros island.

Records of the 11th IB showed that 14 persons, including two Army soldiers and six members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army, were summarily executed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA from February last year to March this year.

The military classifies the upland areas of Guihulngan, Oriental Negros, as the "center of gravity" of the Komiteng Rehiyonal - Negros chaired by priest-turned-rebel Frank Fernandez.

Manangquil said the convoy of vehicles that ferried participants who brought with them and displayed placards and streamers denouncing rebel atrocities, hit the road of Brgy. Bulwangan, San Carlos City, and proceeded to the poblacions of Vallehermoso and Guihulngan, for a whole-day program.

The activity which started at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, ended at 4 p.m. with a mass officiated by Fr. Boy Mariquit at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Brgy. Hilaitan, one of the rebel-infested barangays of Guihulngan town.

Manangquil claimed that the CPP-NPA keeps on terrorizing the populace, especially those in the upland areas of central Negros where government has a limited presence, by imposing revolutionary taxes and harass, or even worse, execute those who refuse to cooperate with them.*GPB

back to top