Anti-NPA Rally held in Sorsogon City

       More than a 1,000 people staged a rally on March 29, 2011 at the Freedom Park in Sorsogon City against the New People’s Army to denounce the atrocities they have been doing in the province. The rally coincided with the 42nd anniversary of the NPA.

                         

            Organized by the Federation officials of the BDS (Barangay Defense System) of Castilla, Sorsogon, the rallyists initially assembled in two groups: one group came from the different barangays of the municipalities of Castilla and Pilar while the other group came from the Bacon District and the municipalities of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin, Gubat and Barcelona (all of Sorsogon) as well as students from the city schools. At about 9am, the two groups marched through the streets of the city carrying placards against the NPAs and converged at Freedom Park in front of the Provincial Capitol where a program was conducted. They were seen distributing leaflets to passersby and onlookers. Many bystanders showed their support to the marchers.

            At the park, the marchers assembled and lively reacted to the speakers as they spoke of their disdain for the NPA and their supporters. Amidst a festive atmosphere, the five speakers took turns demanding for a stop in forced extortion, unsolved killings of suspected military spies, intimidation of the residents and the atmosphere of fear they impose in the barangays. The speakers included former rebels, a relative of a CAFGU killed by the NPAs, a student, a farmer and a businessman who was a victim of NPA extortion.

            After the speeches, they burned effigies of Jose Maria Sison and Satur Ocampo as they sang “Pilipinas Kong Mahal”. They then dispersed peacefully before noon.

When asked by media to comment on the rally, Col Felix Castro Jr, the 903^rd Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army, said that the rally is a clear indication that the people of Sorsogon have grown tired of the NPAs who, after 42 years, have not contributed anything good to the province. “People here no longer believe the NPA propaganda. They just want peace and to work hard to improve their lives, without the NPAs threatening them.”, says Col Castro.

 

With more and more people openly airing their grievances against the NPAs, it would not take long before they become totally unwanted in the province. Maybe then, the Sorsogonons will finally have peace.