TERRORISTS UNWELCOME. The Peace and Order Council of Barangay Bagting in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija province approves a resolution declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as “persona non grata” in its meeting held at the mayor’s office on Monday (July 1, 2019). Barangay Calabasa, also in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija and the municipality of Dingalan in Aurora province also declared the communist organization as "unwelcome". (Photo courtesy of the 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, Philippine Army)
BALER, Aurora – Another town and two villages in Central Luzon have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as "persona non grata".
Lt. Col. Jose Mari F. Torrenueva II, battalion commander of the 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, Philippine Army, in an interview on Monday, said the latest to declare the communist organization as “unwelcome” are the municipality of Dingalan in Aurora and Barangays Bagting and Calabasa in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija through their respective peace and order council resolutions.
Torrenueva commended the local leaders and officials for taking courage to fight for long and lasting peace in their respective communities.
“The town of Dingalan headed by Mayor Shierwin Taay is now prepared to attain long-lasting peace and development and is now willing to participate in the socio-cultural and economic programs of the government,” he said.
Torrenueva, meanwhile, recalled that rebels used to pass through the villages of Bagting and Calabasa when bringing their supplies to the hinterlands of Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija.
“In addition, terrorists also conducted extortion to the residents of the barangays for years, wherein the residents grew tired of the repeating incidents thus, brought them to decide for a resolution declaring them as persona non-grata,” he said.
Torrenueva encouraged other LGUs to do the same as he assured for the military’s full support to those joining in the fight against insurgents.
The LGUs in the region that earlier declared the communists as persona non grata were Maria Aurora town in Aurora province, Laur and Carranglan in Nueva Ecija, and Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan.
The CPP-NPA, which has marked 50 years of armed struggle, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
