TADIAN, Mountain Province – At least 57 residents of Tadian, Mountain Province who used to be supporters and sympathizers of Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) dubbed as Underground Mass Organization (UgMO) voluntarily withdrawn and officially pledged their allegiance to the government in a program held at Barangay Sumadel, Tadian, Mountain Province on October 28, 2021.
The activity was the result of a joint series of negotiation efforts in the three barangays of Batayan, Bantey and Sumadel, Tadian, Mt. Province by the Community Support Program Operators (CSP) from Alpha Company, 69IB, 71 ID headed by 1st LT Rogelio S. Recto JR., and CSP from 1502nd MC, Regional Mobile Force Batallion headed by PCAPT Graeme Boy Javier with the support from Tadian Municipal Police Station headed by PLT Denio Gatawa Pacio and Mountain Province Police Provincial Office Director PCol Ruben B. Andiso in their campaign against insurgency and to encourage CPP-NPA-NDF to return into the folds of the law.
The pledge of allegiance by the 57 former UgMO was presented by 1st LT Rogelio S. Recto Jr. and officiated by Hon. Johnson W. Balaoas, Tadian Municipal Councilor, after the overview of EO number 70 explained by the Municipal Local Government Officer of Tadian LGU, Mr. Perry D. Bacwadan,
During the program, Commanding Officer of Alpha Company, 69IB, 71 ID, Pa Lieutenant Colonel Marcelo F Valdez Jr. expressed his gratitude to the former UgMO for voluntarily taking their oath in favor of the government. He explained that CNN are professional swindlers who had been taking advantages to innocent people in their plight to destroy/dismantle the government and take their political power for 53 years. He further encouraged the participants to be censorious these coming 2022 national elections on who to support and vote especially the party list. There are many ways to distinguish left leaning candidates and party list so be cautious, he added.
On the part of Mountain Province Police Provincial office, the mastermind of OPLAN Binnaga, Pcol Ruben B. Andiso delivered also his inspiring message to the participants. In his speech, he assured to the participants that the government is not blaming them for their previous involvement to the terrorist groups because they are just victims of misinformation as one of the many deluding tactics of the enemy of the state. He further encouraged the public to participate in solving the real existing problem within their community and incoming problems that maybe brought by natural disaster. Ending the support of community will weaken these CPP-NPA-NDF.
Also present during the program who expressed his support to the participants is Commanding Officer of 702nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade, 7ID LTC Recardo Garry B. Garcia III. LTC Garcia congratulated the participants in starting to truly living peacefully. He explained that ending support to the terrorist group is one of the biggest role of the community to start living peacefully.
Moreover, also present during the activity who expressed their support in the EO #70 are Mr. Angel Baybay and Mr. Roy Magalgalit who represented the Mountain Province Provincial Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan and Tadian Mayor Constito S. Masweng respectively.
The program ended by burning of CPP-NPA-NDF flags and signing of covenant pledge of allegiance to the government. By Aris OCB