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More Region 8 LGUs tag CPP-NPA ‘persona non-grata’

By Sarwell Meniano

June 25, 2019, 6:47 pm

<p><strong>UNWELCOME.</strong> The municipal council of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar declares the New People's Army (NPA)  'persona non-grata' in a meeting on April 16, 2019. At least 13 local government units, including villages, have officially rejected the NPA for disturbing development efforts in their communities. <em>(Photo courtesy of Philippine Army 43rd Infantry Battalion)</em></p>

UNWELCOME. The municipal council of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar declares the New People's Army (NPA)  'persona non-grata' in a meeting on April 16, 2019. At least 13 local government units, including villages, have officially rejected the NPA for disturbing development efforts in their communities. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army 43rd Infantry Battalion)

TACLOBAN CITY -- At least 13 local government units, including villages, have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), “persona non-grata” for derailing development efforts in their communities.

In a report released Tuesday by the Army's 8th Infantry Division, the communist terrorist group has been denounced by local government officials through resolutions approved in the past six months.

In Northern Samar, these towns are San Antonio, San Vicente, and Lope de Vega. Curry village in Lope de Vega and Roxas village in Las Navas town also issued the same declaration.

Leyte province has the most towns that declared the insurgents “persona non-grata”. These are Baybay City, Burauen, Leyte, Inopacan, Hilongos, and Mahaplag.

Other areas that rejected the communist rebels are Maasin City in Southern Leyte and Matuguinao in Samar.

For the Burauen local government, “the presence of insurgents has immobilized business activities, discouraged potential investors, and the civilian population is prone to unconventional threats.”

The town, through a resolution signed March 19, 2019, has expressed its support for the national government’s goal to completely eradicate insurgency. Some upland villages in Burauen are still under threats from the rebel groups.

Lt. Col. Raymund Picut, commander of the Army's 43rd Infantry Battalion based in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar, said in a statement the operational approach implemented by AFP troops in the ground is effective, hence, encouraging communities to fully support the military’s anti-insurgency initiatives.

“The security services delivered by the Army in Northern Samar have been felt by the people and the communities, which resulted in the declaration of NPA as 'persona non-grata',” Picut said.

The CPP-NPA, which hve been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

 

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