By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After over 100 supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) withdrew support from the rebels, the commander of the Philippine Army 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) recently said Negrenses have awakened from the lies and deception of the terrorist rebels.

Lt. Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan encouraged other Negrenses to end their support of the rebel groups in order to attain lasting peace and sustain the development of Negros Occidental.

The 114 participants, including 98 former mass supporters and 16 unit militia, took a pledge of allegiance to the Philippine Constitution before San Carlos City Department of the Interior and Local Government local government operations officer Steven Dronco.

Earlier, 79IB facilitated the conduct of the oath of allegiance for two groups that also renounced support to the CPP-NPA in two northern Negros cities.

Last February 22, 80 former members and mass supporters of the CPP-NPA pledged loyalty to the government in Victorias City. The following day, 35 persons from Escalante City also expressed their loyalty to the Philippine government./DGB, WDJ