They were mostly peasant farmers who want to own the land they till and were enticed to support militant organizations to realize their dream.
Capt. Louell Egos, commanding officer of the Special Operation Company of the 8th Infantry Division, presented the former members of NPA fronts to City Mayor Eric Codilla. He said they did not know that they were joining front organizations of the NPA.
In simple ceremonies held in Barangay Guintiguian Friday, Egos told the former front members that the land their grandfathers and their fathers had tilled will never be theirs because these properties are owned by other people, but they too could own a land through legal means through the help of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Alicia, who asked that her family name be withheld, told The Star that she was among the first to surrender when the military urged them to return to the fold of the law.
She recounted that she was invited by the militant organization, along with many others from her barangay to attend a meeting in the city. But when they arrived at the place, they were immediately given placards and were instructed to join a rally. She said she joined the organization hoping to own a land and not to denounce President Arroyo.
Eddie Gardo, a farmer, said that armed men have been convincing him to join the underground movement but he has continuously refused. However, because his house in sitio Tabla is so near the NPA camp, he was among the locals who helped the NPA build their camp and create a tunnel in the area.
Codilla said the people in the barangay are now united, and hopefully there will be peace and order.
Barangay Guintiguian is a rice growing village with hundreds of rice farms. Some farmlands have benefited from the Rice Production Enhancement Program (RPEP), which is a priority project of Codilla.
To denounce their membership and support to the NPA, most of the peasant farmers joined the Bantay Bayan organization, an anti-communist group formed by the military in the barangay. They also burned the flag of the NPA.