451 Kadamay members surrender in Bulacan

CITY OF MALOLOS – In support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s “Whole of Nation Approach” in ending local communist armed conflict, the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) through the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) headed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando led the 451 former members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) as they withdraw their support and membership from the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) yesterday at Brgy. Mapulang Lupa, Pandi, Bulacan.

The former KADAMAY members, who inhabited the housing projects of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Pandi without authorization, recited the pledge of allegiance to the Philippine Flag before burning the flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) together with their IDs as a symbol of their surrender.

A community consultation and problem-solving session were also held for the surrenderees spearheaded by the Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) and Local Peace Engagement (LPE) cluster of RTF-ELCAC.

Provincial Director of Bulacan Police Provincial Office PCol. Lawrence Cajipe, commended the surrenderees in making the right choice and said that the government is willing to help them and correct their false ideologies caused by the communist and terrorists groups.

“Madami ang lalong naghihirap dahil sa insureksyon na ‘yan, dahil sa mga rebelde. Ngunit hindi na iyan naging hadlang sa atin, bagkus patuloy ang ating pamahalaan sa paggawa ng mga hakbangin upang ang ating mga kababayan ay maka-ahon sa kahirapan. Ito na ang tamang panahon upang mag bagong-buhay- Cajipe said.

Fernando also expressed the willingness of the government to give opportunities to the surrenderees and encourage them to help establish a community instead of dismantling them.

“Narito tayo para ipagbigay alam ang mga serbisyo at oportunidad para sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Pandi. Nais nating mahimok ang tunay na pagbabalik loob ng ating mga kapatid at kapwa Bulakenyong napabilang sa armadong pakikibaka. Sa ating mga kasapi ng KADAMAY, bahagi po kayo ng ating lalawigan at tayo ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon ng pamahalaan na makatuwang sa pagtatatag at hindi sa pagbuwag sa ating lipunan” the governor said.

Concurrently, a relief operation was conducted after the program wherein each surrenderees received food packs from the PGB.

The program was made possible through the joint efforts of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice and Department of Labor and Employment.###