BONTOC, Mountain Province – Former rebel returnees recently denounced the alleged ongoing recruitment activities being done by the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front – New Peoples Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) from the ranks of the youth, especially minors, in the different parts of the Cordillera over the past several months.
In a statement, the Balik Loob Organization of Mountain Province that is composed of former rebel returnees stated that the ongoing recruitment of minors to join the underground movement has no place in the country at this time that the Philippines is experiencing various issues related to economy, politics and safety and security of the people.
The group assured their all-out support to the country’s lawmakers for continuously mindful of the needs of the people in far flung communities like Mountain Province when crafting laws and other related legislations that will advance the greater interest of the Filipinos.
Further, the group denounced the supposed purported stand of the Makabayan block in the House of Representatives in support to the country’s democracy but in reality, some of them are facing charges for having infringed upon the rights of indigenous peoples from the different parts of Mindanao which they allegedly used to advance their political interest.
While they were a member of the communist movement in the past, they admitted having been witnesses but the same changed and they opted to become members of the mainstream society because they were not in favor of their purported activities that tend to impact the lives of the people living in remote villages.
The group asserted that what happened in Davao del Norte where children belonging to the indigenous peoples in the area should not happen in other parts of the country like the Cordillera that is predominantly composed of indigenous peoples because they do not want their rights to be abused and taken advantage of by the movement.
The group added that for as long as the members of the Makabayan block remain in power, they will continue to uncover and expose their questionable activities so that the people will be fully aware of their illegal activities until such time that they will lose trust and confidence on them and will no longer allow them to be in power.
Moreover, the group is pushing for the removal of the members of the Makabayan block in the House considering their being alleged double standard in their actuations that tend to compromise the safety and security of the Filipinos, thus, the need for Filipinos to re-think on whom to put in power, especially during the upcoming political exercise.
The group assured the public that they will continue to work hard in exposing their clandestine and illegal activities that tend to affect the reign of law and order in the country. By Dexter A. See
