BALER, Aurora - A total of 74 former members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) on Friday denounced their support to the communist terrorist group and pledged allegiance to the national government.

The withdrawal of support was made during the conduct of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster Region 3 (Central Luzon) convergence for local peace engagement and community consultation held at the covered court in Barangay Dinadiawan in Dipaculao town, this province.

As proof of their sincerity to the government, the former rebels and supporters burned the CPP-NPA flag.

Maria Luisa F. De Guzman, regional director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), in her message, cited the importance of community consultation in promoting peace and stability in the province.

De Guzman said it is part of the whole-of-nation approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) under Executive Order No. 70 series of 2018 issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

She urged the former rebels and supporters to take part in the government's peacebuilding initiatives.

Retired Army Major General Abraham Claro Casis, the representative of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), underscored the importance of preventive measures so that people in the communities will not be deceived by the false advocacies of the communist group.

"Kami po ay sama-sama ngayon na lumalapit sa inyo upang mabigyan ng solusyon ang problema sa inyong mga lugar (We are here today to give a solution to the problem in your area)," Casis said.

"We are here to plan, mobilize and organize the group into people's organization and local government units will come in for appropriate intervention programs in your locality. We are here to help for peace and development," he added.

He also asked the former rebels to convince their comrades still in the mountains to come down.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of 91st Infantry "Sinagtala" Battalion, Philippine Army, asked the former rebels to give importance to the support and programs offered by the government that could help change their lives.

One of the former CPP-NPA commanders, who requested anonymity, expressed belief in the government's sincere efforts to help them.

"As your commander and political officer before, I am encouraging you to listen to our government. They are sincere to help us. Let us unite to be with them. They are seeking peace and development for us," the former commander said.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as "an integral and inseparable part" of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)