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NegOcc village declares CPP-NPA persona non grata

By Nanette Guadalquiver

September 22, 2020, 3:29 pm

<p><strong>WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT</strong>. Former mass supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia, Negros Occidental burn the CPP-NPA flag in a ceremony held at the village covered court on Monday (Sept. 21, 2020). The village officials and residents also declared the communist-terrorist group as persona non grata. <em>(Photo courtesy of 79th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)</em></p>

WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT. Former mass supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia, Negros Occidental burn the CPP-NPA flag in a ceremony held at the village covered court on Monday (Sept. 21, 2020). The village officials and residents also declared the communist-terrorist group as persona non grata. (Photo courtesy of 79th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)

BACOLOD CITY – Officials and residents of Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia, Negros Occidental declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as persona non grata in a ceremonial signing of a barangay resolution held at the village covered court on Monday.

The rites, participated in by 63 former mass supporters of the CPP-NPA, was facilitated by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) with support from the municipal government headed by Mayor Gerardo Rojas and the barangay council led by village chief Larry Alvarez.

“This is a clear manifestation that the peace-loving residents of Barangay Sta. Rosa are already fed up with the deceptions, threat to life and properties, and extortions perpetrated by the communist-terrorist group,” Lt. Col. Gerard Alvaran, commander of 79IB, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The former mass supporters recited the oath of allegiance to the Philippine government before Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Marissa Costelo and village officials led the ceremonial signing of the resolution declaring the CPP-NPA and its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), persona non grata.

They also raised placards with messages calling on the insurgents to stop terrorism in their community and the burned the CPP-NPA flag as well.

“The pledge to withdraw their support from the CPP-NPA is a bold step towards ending insurgency and secure lasting peace and sustainable development in their community,” Alvaran said.

After the program, soldiers distributed leaflets on the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP for former rebels and gave five kilos of rice to each participant.

In June this year, residents of Sta. Rosa and neighboring villages of Amayco and Pandanon Silos staged a rally to call for peace in their communities and condemn the atrocities of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Last Friday, members of three farmers’ associations in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental also declared the CPP-NPA persona non grata and condemned their atrocities in rites held in Barangay Pilar gymnasium.

The CPP-NPA has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

 

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