Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, reminded barangay officials in Negros Occidental to not support terrorist organizations, such as the New People’s Army (NPA), during the Barangay Summit on Good Governance, which was hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last Friday.

Arevalo presented a copy of a DILG memorandum circular that prohibits local chief executives from providing support to left-wing rebel groups.

The brigade commander used Barangay Washington in Escalante City as an example, pointing out, following an encounter between the rebels and government forces last November, local residents petitioned the city government to stop providing funding and material support to leftist organizations supporting the NPA. They also condemned the presence of such groups.

Former NPA committee member Evelyn Bustamante also spoke during the summit and presented her experiences, exposing the direct connection between the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front as a source of manpower, financial, and logistical support for the NPA.

She urged barangay officials not to support any leftist party-list groups, pointing out, “They, too, are directly or indirectly giving support to the NPA’s armed struggle.

Arevalo, meanwhile, stated everyone should not believe the lies and deception perpetrated by the NPA, adding, they have been fooling the public and causing misery for the last 50 years./DGB, WDJ