BACOLOD City – About 750 farmers in Silay City, Negros Occidental formally disaffiliated themselves from the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) in a “mass condemnation” rite at the Eustaquio Lopez Covered Court in Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City over the weekend.
The farmers also burned flags of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and signed resolutions approving the creation of the barangay task force to end local communist armed conflict.
Barangay Captain Memia Gallego said they were one with the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion in keeping the community free from communist-terrorist groups.
Jocelino Abayon, vice chairman of AIDSISA Farmers and Farm Workers Association, said they now see “a government that truly cares.”
“They (NFSW) promised to give us land but left us. The Philippine Army and the PNP (Philippine National Police) guided us on the things to do,” said Abayon.
Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, commanding officer of 79IB, lauded the farmers “for finally making a firm stand in denouncing communist terrorist groups and allied organizations.”
“The pledge to withdraw their support from the organization is both an opportunity and a fresh start,” said Javines.
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 participated in the activity./PN
