By JORGE MADLOS (Ka Oris)
Spokesperson, NDFP-Mindanao
The enormity of the damage to lives and property in Northern Mindanao as seen in the aftermath of tropical storm Sendong is a clear call for the people to take immediate and decisive action, especially in undertaking retrieval, relief and rehabilitation operations.
The death toll stands at over a thousand and is still rising, hundreds remain missing, thousands, especially those in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao and part of Caraga, are displaced.
The devastation wreaked upon property, infrastructure, and agriculture is estimated to reach billions of pesos. Aside from experiencing heavy shortage in safe shelter, food, and potable water, the psychological trauma and emotional stress afflicting the survivors of one of the worst disasters ever to hit Mindanao are becoming prevalent.
In view of this, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines–Mindanao (NDFP-Mindanao) is also raising funds and gathering all kinds of material support to help in the retrieval, relief and rehabilitation of the victims of tropical storm Sendong.
We are requiring all mining, logging, and agri-business companies that have profited in the past decades and in the present from their business operations to make substantial contributions to defray the cost for effective retrieval, relief and sustainable rehabilitation.
In concretely expressing our solidarity behind the victims in their hour of need, we ask all the revolutionary forces and the broad masses in Mindanao and the entire country to contribute whatever means they can afford for the flood victims. Please channel your donations and contributions to authorized revolutionary representatives in your localities.
Moreover, we encourage all Party Members, Red commanders and fighters, and masses in Mindanao, who will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines in various guerrilla fronts on December 26, to observe frugality and simplicity in holding these activities in deference to the survivors and victims of this latest tragic event. Let us spare other contributions to the celebration and channel these to legitimate relief and rehabilitation centers.
We concur with the standing order of the North Central Mindanao Regional Party committee to its units of the New People’s Army – NCMR to suspend tactical offensive actions against military detachments, camps and outposts, including police stations and outposts from Dec 21, 2011 to January 3, 2012 to pave the way for the continuing retrieval relief and rehabilitation of the affected vicinities and service to the flood victims.
Let us all unite in the face of grave tragedy; we must willingly, without delay, extend all our strength to help unfetter our brethren from despair and further destruction.
