Zamboanga del Sur youth groups denounce NPA on its 54th founding anniversary

Youth from various organizations held a rally to denounce the communist New People’s Army on its 54th founding anniversary on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Photo by Leah Agonoy

MOLAVE, Zamboanga del Sur — Hundreds of youth here marked the 54th anniversary of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on Wednesday with a rally denouncing the rebel organization for “deceiving many young people into embracing their bankrupt ideology.”

The rally at the town center was led by the National Freedom for Peace Movement (NAFPEM) and participated by various local youth organizations.

The NPA was organized in 1969 in Tarlac province, four months after the founding of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

NAFPEM chairman Dante Labunog told the Inquirer that they wished for the CPP-NPA to end their armed struggle, go back to the arms of the government and start life afresh.

Youth from various organizations held a rally to denounce the communist New People’s Army on its 54th founding anniversary on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Photo by Leah Agonoy

“They have deceived many people, many have suffered, even sacrificed their life and comfort,” Labunog said.

He noted that many of those recruited with false hopes were from the youth and those living in the hinterlands especially from the ranks of the indigenous peoples.

“We also wanted to protect our youth that is why we teach them on the deceptive strategies used by the CPP-NPA,” he added.

Jovel, who used to be a rebel fighter for nine years, said the NPA will continue to prey on innocent civilians until “its deception is unmasked before the communities” especially in the hinterlands.

Jovel recalled how they supposedly educated rural folk that the armed struggle is the only way for them to improve their lives. “But we all ended up deceived,” he sadly admitted.

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