SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- A total of 60 former New People’s Army (NPA) informants, or those referred to by the underground movement as “susing masa,” severed their connections with the communist group and pledged allegiance to the Philippine government.

The former communist sympathizers were joined by more than 500 residents of the municipalities of Calintaan and Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro in the ceremony organized by the 68th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

The existence of a “susing masa” in a community is one of the NPA’s pillars for their operations, Capt. Ersel Filipinas of the 68th IB said.

“Yung susing masa, ‘yan ‘yong nagsisilbing mata nila (NPA) sa community at diyan din sila kumukuha ng support at information. ‘Yan yung mga ordinaryong mamamayan na nagagamit at sumusuporta sa makakaliwang grupo pero malimit naman diyan mga wala na lang choice [o] natatakot,” Filipinas added.

[The susing masa serves as the NPA’s eyes in the community, and they also provide support and information. The susing masa are ordinary citizens who are used by and support the NPA, but a majority of them do so because they have no choice or out of fear.]

He underscored that the withdrawal of support forthe susing masa is a big development in eliminating armed conflict in the community.

“Napakahalaga na wala na ‘yung susing masa sa komunidad [o] sa barangay kasi hindi na rin mabubuhay ang NPA diyan. Hindi na sila ligtas at hindi na rin sila para magtagal, kasi wala ng masa. [Kapag] wala ng matutuluyan, aalis na sila sa isang barangay,” the captain shared.

[Without the susing masa, the NPA will not survive in a community or in a barangay. Without them, the NPA will not be safe and they will not stay. When there is no support, they will eventually leave the barangay.]

The withdrawal of support was followed by a service caravan spearheaded by the Provincial and Municipal Task Force toEnd Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), where 492 individuals benefited from free medical check-ups and dental services, feeding activity, and assistance with PhilHealth registration.

Soldiers of the 68th Infantry Battalion and police from the Municipal Police Station gave free haircuts, while the Provincial and Municipal Agriculture Offices distributed free agricultural inputs and vaccinations for animals.

The former rebels also received monetary aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. They, along with the residents,  also received food packs from the Cooperative Development Authority.

Filipinas shared that the service caravans regularly conducted in different communities, in addition to the  frequent conduct of information drives, were one of the contributing factors for the former informants to cut their ties with the communist group.

“Naibahagi ng mga dating susing masa na isa po sa mga dahilan ng pagputol nila ng koneksyon sa NPA ay dahil sa mga information dissemination. Kung baga nalinawan na sila na mabuti naman ang gobyerno taliwas sa sinasabi ng makakaliwang grupo,” he explained.

[Former susing masa shared that one of the reasons why they chose to disassociate with the NPA was the information dissemination. They were enlightened that the government is good, in contrast to the communist group’s claim.]

The Philippine Army, with the Task Force-ELCAC, continues to conduct information drive campaigns and deliver government programs and projects to ELCAC-identified areas in the province in pursuit of ending insurgencies in Occidental Mindoro. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)