Villagers in Davao del Norte’s Boston town rally against the New People’s Army rebels.
DAVAO ORIENTAL (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 7, 2011) – Some 1,500 villagers in the southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental have rallied against atrocities committed by the communist rebel group New People’s Army.
The villagers, mostly from the town of Boston
The rally was organized by the Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion and the provincial and municipal government officials headed by Governor Corazon Malanyaon and Mayor Rebecco Rosit, Sr.
The military also held a three-day peace building seminar attended by over 300 villagers, including 18 former rebels.
“This is to promote peace and development in the municipality and to publicly denounce the untruthful and violent activities of the lawless armed group,” said Colonel Reuben Basiao, the battalion commander.
He said Philippine Army is now focus on peace and development under the so-called Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” where all stakeholders are participating and committed for the success of achieving genuine peace towards sustainable development.
“Peace is an obligation of the whole community and not only a responsibility of the soldiers. We will attain peace thru cooperation and unity. This will never be possible if the community is not united and that the people lack awareness of the real intention of the CPP-NPA-NDF. We also thank the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, Local Government of Boston and different Line Government Agencies for the support, not just morally but also financially for the benefit of the developmental projects in Davao Oriental,” Basiao said.
CPP refers to the Communist Party of the Philippines
The rebels have been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
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