CONDEMNATION. Residents of Isabela, Negros Occidental join the walk for peace to denounce the atrocities and reject the presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in their municipality on Tuesday (Nov. 19, 2019). Mayor Irene Montilla and Vice Mayor Renato Malabor Jr. led the ceremonial signing of the resolution declaring the terrorist group persona non grata in the central Negros municipality. (Photo courtesy of 62nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)
BACOLOD CITY -- Some 1,000 residents of Isabela, Negros Occidental joined a walk for peace and rejected the presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in their municipality, in a gathering held at the town plaza on Tuesday.
Led by Mayor Irene Montilla and Vice Mayor Renato Malabor Jr., the participants, who included barangay officials, teachers, students, and law enforcers, denounced the atrocities of the CPP-NPA and its political front, the National Democratic Front (NDF), in their united call for peace.
“This is the time to end the chaos and damage brought by these groups with false ideology. To my constituents, we should never again allow ourselves to be deceived by the NPA. Let us stand by our guided principle, which is to bring peace to this municipality,” Montilla said.
Thanking her constituents for their cooperation, she said that peace is needed to draw investors and help bring progress to the central Negros town.
During the program, municipal and barangay leaders were joined by officials of the Philippine Army, various government agencies, and representatives of the religious sector in the ceremonial signing of the resolution declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF persona non grata.
The resolution, approved by the Municipal Council on October 18, stated that the constituents of Isabela condemn all forms of terrorism, uphold their allegiance and support to the government in its fight against terrorism, and renounce the association and affiliation of some of its members with the CPP-NPA.
“The peace-loving people of Isabela must take a stand against the presence of communist terrorist groups to show our sincerity and support to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to once and for all, end the communist insurgency in our country,” it added.
“The CPP-NPA-NDF is now officially condemned and deemed unwelcome in Isabela, Negros Occidental because of their atrocities, criminal acts, and violations of international humanitarian laws,” according to the resolution.
Also part of the ceremony was an oath for peace led by Councilor Elsa Candelario and the oath of allegiance to the country, by Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, as well as candle lighting and burning of CPP-NPA-NDF flags. The program was capped by the release of white balloons and doves.
Brig. Gen. Benedicto Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said Isabela town showed great cooperation and holistic effort to help end the local communist armed conflict.
“The mayor herself is very dedicated in the advocacy of eradicating the presence these groups in the municipality to execute the President’s mandate of a 'whole of nation' approach,” Arevalo added. (PNA)
