About 750 farmers in Silay City formally disaffiliated themselves from the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) during mass condemnation rites at the Eustaquio Lopez Covered Court in Brgy. E. Lopez on Saturday, October 30, an Army press release said.
Members and key leaders of Hacienda Pula-Silay Agrarian Reform Cooperative; Purok Sunshine, AIDSISA Agriculture Workers Association; Purok Langka, AIDSISA Farmer and Farm Workers Association; Hacienda Caridad Farmers and Farm Workers Association; and Agricultural Farmers and Farm Worker Association (AFFWA) participated in the activity.
They took their oath of allegiance to the Philippine government before Brgy Captain Memia Gallego, burned the replica flags of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as they hoisted banners and placards strongly denouncing the NFSW and joined the symbolic signing of resolutions passed by their respective associations approving the creation of the Barangay Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the press release said.
Gallego also expressed her full support and cooperation to guard her community from the influence of the CTGs.
Jocelino Abayon, vice chairman of the AIDSISA Farmers and Farm Workers Association, said they now see a government that truly cares for their plight compared to the promises and deceptions made by the CTGs who insinuated them to become members of NFSW.
“They (NFSW) promised to give us land but in the end they just left us. But the Philippine Army and the PNP guided us on what are the things that need to be done and led us to the right agency who can help us process the papers for us to own a land”, Abayon said.
Lt. Col. J-jay T Javines, 79th Infantry “Masaligan” Battalion commander, lauded the decision of the farmers for strongly denouncing their disaffiliation with NFSW and condemning the abuses of the CTGs.
“I extend my greatest appreciation to the participants for finally making a firm stand in denouncing the CTGs and its allied organizations who have been troubling their community for decades now. The pledge to withdraw their support from the organization is both an opportunity and a fresh start for them to free themselves from deceptions and manipulations by the communist terrorist groups”, Javines said.
“Let us work together in winning over any threat that hinders peace and progress in your communities,” Javines added.*