A total of 750 farmers disaffiliated and withdrew their support from the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) and conducted a mass condemnation rally held at Barangay E. Lopez in Silay City, Negros Occidental last October 30, 2021.

Members and key leaders of Hacienda Pula-Silay Agrarian Reform Cooperative; Purok Sunshine, AIDSISA Agriculture Workers Association; Purok Langka, AIDSISA Farmer and Farm Workers Association; Hacienda Caridad Farmers and Farm Workers Association; and Agricultural Farmers and Farm Worker Association (AFFWA) participated in the said activity.

They took their oath of allegiance to the Philippine government before barangay captain Memia Gallego, burned the replica flags of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as they hoisted banners and placards, strongly denouncing their disaffiliation with NFSW and joined the symbolic signing of resolutions passed by their respective associations approving the creation of the Barangay Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, Philippine Army’s 303rd Brigade commander, lauded the decision of the farmers for denouncing their disaffiliation with NFSW and strongly condemned the abuses of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs).

“We call to all sectors to be wary about these organizations linked with the Communist Terrorist Groups. Their deceptive nature and strategy will infiltrate and destroy our farmer sectors. Connect with us, your Army in Negros, PNP, or LGUs, and we shall provide you with the correct information. We are hoping that there are still other sectors that will emulate what the local farmers in Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City have done in disaffiliating themselves with the CTG front organizations because it is only when we are unified thru the whole of nation approach, that we can easily defeat these communist NPA terrorists and end the insurgency problem here in Negros,” Pasaporte added./WDJ