CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay Rizal - A total of 211 members and supporters of Anakpawis have withdrawn their membership and severed their ties with the CPP-NPA-NDF following a mass disaffiliation ceremony held in Taytay, Rizal on Sunday, February 26, 2023.
The ceremony, held at Sitio Pyramid, was spearheaded by Dolores Barangay Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Chairman Hon. Barangay Chairman Rene Tapawan and Taytay MTF-ELCAC led by Hon. Mayor Allan Martine De Leon, with assistance from the 80th Infantry "Sandiwa" Battalion, Rizal PNP, and Taytay PNP.
As part of their disaffiliation from the militant group and formal withdrawal of support from the Communist Terrorist Group, the former members and supporters took part in the creation of a People's Organization and pledged an oath of allegiance to the government, signing of peace covenant, and the burning of CPP-NPA-NDF flags.
Anakpwis, a party-list of marginalized sectors of workers, peasants, fisherfolk, national minorities, and urban and rural poor, is a sectoral front organization of the CPP-NPA-NDF and an electoral wing of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the peasant group Kilusang Mangbubukid ng Pilipinas. It was among the organizations CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison named as part of the CPP-NPA-NDF's democratic forces in advancing their Philippine revolution.
"We in the security sector are grateful that through our peace efforts with the Task Forces ELCAC, our kababayans are now supporting the government's peace initiatives. We will continue to engage with our fellowmen to find peaceful resolutions to security problems in the area," 2nd Infantry "Jungle Fighter" Division Commander Maj. General Roberto S. Capulong said in a statement.