Peace rallies held against Reds’ presence in Baguio

By Liza Agoot  

BAGUIO CITY – Simultaneous candle lighting and peace rallies were held here Monday night denouncing the presence of communist New People's Army (NPA) in some communities here.
    Cesvir Lopez, focal person of the Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Baguio, called on residents, including parents, to be always aware of what their children are doing.
    “We would like to call upon our constituents, especially the parents, we should know what our children are involved in, (what) our families are involved in, so that we would know how to address when they are called to join terrorism activities,” he said.
    The candle lighting activity coincided with observance of the National day of solidarity against the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) .
    Col. Christopher Sab-it of the 503rd Infantry Battalion said the event was part of the partnership of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police.
    “Today, we are here for a candle lighting for peace. We know that we have insurgency problem with the NPA which has been for years, but we are trying to resolve the problem,” he said.
    Under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, he said that partnership to end the armed conflict with the CPP-NPA is addressed by the whole country, not just the government, but those in the private sector joining hands.
    He said that 52 years of insurgency is too much.
    "Sobra na ito (this is too much) and it is not getting us anywhere,” Sab-it said. “Kapag may kaguluhan, walang (if there is insurgency, there is no) development.”
    The CPP-NPA was reportedly listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. --PNA