Indignant President Roxas residents unite against NPAs
Mindanao Armed Conflict • 15:45 PM Tue Jul 16, 2019
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By:
John M. Unson
Thousands witnessed the burning of the NPA flag in President Roxas town.
NORTH COTABATO --- Thousands of irate residents in President Roxas town together burned a flag of the New People’s Army whose activities they detest for being ruthless and anti-poor.
The popular Catholic station dxND in Kidapawam City reported Tuesday that thousands witnessed the burning of the NPA flag in a gymnasium in North Cotabato’s hinterland President Roxas town.
A number of innocent villagers have either been killed or injured in NPA roadside bomb attacks in President Roxas and in nearby Magpet and Arakan towns in recent months.
NPA guerillas have also executed villagers who refuse to pay protection money and on mere suspicion of conniving with the military.
Mayor Jonathan Mahimpit told reporters their symbolic burning of the NPA flag was to manifest indignation over the group’s activities in President Roxas.
Close to 300 NPAs surrendered to Army units in North Cotabato’s upland Arakan, President Roxas and Magpet towns in the past two years.
Mahimpit said the government has to sustain its rehabilitation and other interventions for the now reforming former NPAs to entice their hardcore companions to avail of Malacañang’s reconciliation program for communist rebels.
Mahimpit’s constituent-barangay officials told reporters they voluntarily participated in the burning of the NPA flag to show their solidarity against the group.