Bulacan town declares CPP-NPA as 'persona non grata'

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 8, 2019): Bulacan town declares CPP-NPA as 'persona non grata'

PANDI, Bulacan — The local government here has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) as "persona non grata".

Major General Lenard T. Agustin, commander of the Army's 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, on Monday hailed the local officials of Pandi and the 48th Infantry Battalion (48IB) for playing a part in the town's declaration.

“The municipality of Pandi, as it continues to be productive and developed, did right to condemn the illegal and unlawful activities of the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) as it threatens the economic, social and political stability of the municipality and its people. With this resolution declaring CNTs as persona non grata, CNTs will not be welcomed in this municipality,” he said in a statement.

The approved resolution was proposed during the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting held last March 15, which was presided by Pandi Mayor Celestino Marquez.

The resolution was formed in line with Memorandum Circular No. 2018-211 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which prohibited support to the Left Wing Rebel Group, and Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creation of a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and the adoption of a national peace framework.

Lt. Col. Felix Emeterio M. Valdez, acting commanding officer of the 48IB, said the declaration of persona non grata is timely, especially in the municipality of Pandi where issues in granting housing units under the National Housing Authority (NHA) is used by left-leaning organizations by allegedly giving promises of decent shelter if the residents join them through illegal and unauthorized protests and rallies.

“This resolution manifests condemnation of Pandi in the unlawful activities by the CNTs,” Valdez said.

The municipality of Pandi is the second LGU in Bulacan to declare the CPP-NPA as persona non grata. The first was Doña Remedios Trinidad last March 19.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist group by both the United States and the European Union.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066788