REBELS UNWELCOME. A group of newsmen in Aurora province declares the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as persona non grata in Baler town on Saturday (Sept. 28, 2019). In photo are Lt. Col. Jose Marie Torrenueva II (left), commanding officer of the Army's 91st Infantry Battalion; and Major Amado Gutierrez (right), chief of the Division of Public Affairs Office, 7th Infantry Division. (Photo by Jason de Asis)
BALER, Aurora -- A group of media personalities in this province has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and its affiliated organizations as “persona non grata”.
Lt. Col. Jose Marie Torrenueva II, commanding officer of the 91st Infantry (Sinagtala) Battalion, said on Tuesday that the Kaugnay Media Defense Corps. Inc. (KMDCI) – Aurora Chapter signed the declaration last Sept. 28 with the signatories headed by its newly-elected president, Richard Serqueña.
Torrenueva said the media group supports the Army by actively disseminating information on their people's welfare-centered activities.
"Through media, convincing the rebels to end the armed struggle and return to their families has become more possible as they (the rebels) get to hear about the benefits that await them and the new life they can have through the help of the government and other concerned agencies," he said.
Aurora was the first among the provinces under the responsibility of the 7th Infantry Division (7ID) in Region 3 to declare the CPP-NPA terrorists as unwelcome.
“This time around, the province’s media group has done the same, true to the spirit of standing one with the government, under Executive Order No. 70 or the 'whole-of-nation approach' to end the local communist armed conflict,” Torrenueva said.
Major General Lenard T. Agustin, 7ID commander, said the media group’s commitment to support the Army and the government in their thrust to end local insurgency is a true indication of how the “whole of nation approach” has finally broken down the barriers that hinder the people’s understanding of how peace should be achieved.
“It seems that now, everyone understands that peace is a shared responsibility, and that all of us must play our part so that we can achieve and maintain peace within communities, and in the whole country. I am truly thankful to KMDCI Aurora for their initiative and boldness to do this, and in setting a good example to the people of what responsible journalism should be all about,” Agustin said. (PNA)
