MANILA – The City of Mandaluyong has joined the long list of 1,546 local government units (LGUs) across the country that have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as persona non grata in their localities.
In a resolution adopted on Dec. 1, 2020, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Mandaluyong City, recognized the CPP-NPA-NDF as a left-leaning armed group whose main ideology is to overthrow the democratic system of the government.
“This (communist insurgency) has long been a problem in the entire nation as they remain a threat to national security, most especially in the peace and order situation in certain areas in the country,” read the resolution attested and approved by Vice Mayor Antonio DLS. Silva and Mayor Carmelita A, Abalos, respectively on Dec. 2, 2020.
It added that communist groups “continue to instill fear in the community, recruit new members, and sow terror to investors, as well as killing members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police including civilians.”
The City Council resolution lamented that despite efforts of the national government to address problems through conciliatory ways to reach an accord with the CPP-NPA-NDF, peace negotiations had turned sour due to unconscionable demands of the communist armed group.
Records at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) show that out of the 16 cities and one municipality in the National Capital Region (NCR), nine cities have already passed resolutions condemning CPP-NPA-NDF atrocities and declared them persona non grata. These are Caloocan, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasig, Quezon, San Juan, Valenzuela, and Mandaluyong.
More LGUs
The DILG, in a press release on Dec. 11, 2020, said 1,546 or 90.1 percent of the total 1,715 LGUs nationwide have already declared the CPP-NPA-NDF persona non grata.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the 1,546 LGUs include 64 provinces, 110 cities, and 1,372 municipalities. The remaining 169 LGUs are in various stages of deliberation in their respective provincial, city, and municipal councils.
Some 12,474 barangays nationwide have also declared the CPP-NPA-NDF not welcome in their villages.
The DILG also reported that six of the 17 regions in the country have reached a 100 percent declaration of persona non grata to the CPP-NPA-NDF, namely Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, MIMAROPA, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
It added that nearing absolute declaration of persona non grata are four regions – Ilocos at 99 percent declaration, Cagayan Valley at 98 percent, Northern Mindanao at 95 percent, and CALABARZON at 94 percent.
"Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na isinusuka na ng sambayanan ang CPP-NPA-NDF at ang mga front organizations nito (It is clear that the Filipino communities abhor the CPP-NPA-NDF and its front organizations)," he said, adding that the national government is thankful to the LGUs for closing their doors to communist terrorist groups.
He also lauded LGUs for "stepping up, helping the national government, and letting themselves be counted among the growing number of local governments that want the reign of terror of the CTGs in the countryside to end after more than 50 years."
"Much like the battle against the Covid -19 pandemic, we need to finally end this very old problem using a whole-of-nation approach, and the support from our LGUs gives us great assurance that we are not alone in this war against these atheists, Maoists terrorists,” Año was quoted as saying.
The support of LGUs, he said, is a turning point in the battle against the communist terrorists because the government has since shifted from the military-centric approach but is now utilizing the whole-of-society approach where all government agencies from national to LGUs including the private sector work together to bring peace to the countryside.
“The DILG is looking forward to seeing more LGUs join us in this fight against Communist terrorism. We cannot allow these groups to continue killing people, the time has come to put an end to their wicked ways,” he said, adding that the DILG is positive that the number of LGUs declaring CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata will continue to rise.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
