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Davao Norte guv declares NPA persona non grata

By Che Palicte

January 24, 2020, 8:31 pm

<p>Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib. <em>(PNA file photo)</em></p>

Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib. (PNA file photo)

DAVAO CITY – Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahibhas has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People’s Army, and political arm National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as persona non grata.

Jubahib signed Executive Order No. 14 Thursday declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF persona non grata for "sowing terror in the communities."

In a statement on Friday, Jubahib said the declaration constitutes a total ban on the communist rebel group and its allied organizations from holding "various activities" in the province.

"They are no longer welcome in Davao del Norte and the Dabaonon people will support them no more and will no longer tolerate the presence of armed rebels in the province,” he said.

During the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-11) meeting last week, Jubahib moved for the reclassification of the communist rebel movement as an organized crime group.

He also called on the members of the NPA and their mass supporters to return to the fold of the law and "join the movement for peace and progress."

He said there is no reason for anyone to support the rebel cause, as "the government is now extensively addressing the issues being used by the NPA, such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination."

In a previous interview, Jubahib noted that the government has been delivering services even in far-flung areas, "and there is no way the NPA can stop government programs."

He said President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70, which institutionalizes a 'whole-of-nation approach in fighting insurgency, is fully supported by the provincial government.

Last year, Jubahib established the Davao del Norte Local Peace Engagement Framework to strengthen efforts in ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in the province.

The province also hosted the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), which now coordinates all activities of the region's local government units for the full implementation of EO-70. (PNA)

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