DILG lauds LGUs for declaring CPPNPA-NDF persona non grata, urges others to follow suit
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has lauded the growing number of local government units (LGUs) that have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-National People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as persona non grata and encouraged others to do the same.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said LGUs declaring CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata is a significant victory for the government’s drive to extinguish communist terrorism and the groups that work behind it.
“Declaring CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata is a bold move from these LGUs and we commend them for their support to President Duterte and the national government’s efforts to rid our country of these communist-terrorist groups,” Año said.
The DILG chief said this is timely especially during the midterm elections because it meant that the NPA would not be able to intimidate voters in these areas to vote for their preferred candidates.
The official explained that the said declaration is a big step towards the whole-of-nation-approach the government is spearheading to “once and for all end the decades-long insurgency in the Philippines. “The [national] government cannot do this alone. The LGUs declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata is an assurance that we have allies in this war against insurgency,” he said.
He said that as persona non grata in various LGUs, the CPP-NPA-NDF’s chances of recruiting new members, and
acquiring strength and financial leverage get slimmer giving the government and its forces an advantage.
“The recruitment style of the CPP-NPA-NDF revolves around the poorest communities of the country which they can easily lure for their cause. If LGUs declare them as persona non grata, they cannot continue growing their numbers and territory making it easy for the long arm of the law to corner them,” he said.
Among the LGUs which declared CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata are the Province of Davao Oriental after passing the Provincial Peace and Order Council resolution signed by Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang; villages in Surigao Del Norte; Compostela Valley as pronounced by Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy; tribes in North Cotabato; 21 barangays in Malaybalay, Bukidnon; and Municipality of Sibagat, Agusan Del Sur as stated by Mayor Maria Liza L. Evangelista.
The CPP-NPA-NDF is also not welcome in the town of Jose Abad Santos under Mayor Jason John A. Joyce in Davao Occidental for their “continued acts of violence, terrorism, violent extremism and other forms of lawlessness, oppression, and harassment of the communist insurgents to the people.”
The Municipality of Kapalong, together with the Tribal Leaders, also declared the CPP-NPA-NDF in 1994 as persona non grata in the whole municipality including the Ancestral Domain.
Barangays in Bukidnon, Negros Oriental and Occidental, with two LGUs from Central Luzon namely Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan under Mayor Ronaldo T. Flores, and Carrangalan, Nueva Ecija under Mayor Mary B. Abad, among others, likewise followed, recently.
The DILG chief said that the department is optimistic that the number of LGUs declaring CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata will continue to rise as the government is relentless in its efforts to end insurgency in the country.
“The LGUs are fed up with the CPP-NPA-NDF threatening their people’s lives, properties and future. Unless we want these terrorist groups to persist, we cannot be afraid forever, at some point, we need to come together to achieve lasting peace,” he said.
He also encourages others to “join the club” of LGUs who have stood up for the fight against terrorism by declaring the terrorist group as persona non grata within their localities.
“This is the time for us to stand up for a future that is peaceful and progressive. Join us in our war for lasting peace and in ending insurgency,” he added.