Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: Kalinaw News: Brgy Simbalan in Buenavista declares CPP-NPA “Persona non-Grata”; prompted mass surrender

Friday, May 10, 2019

Kalinaw News: Brgy Simbalan in Buenavista declares CPP-NPA “Persona non-Grata”; prompted mass surrender

Posted to Kalinaw News (May 10, 2019): Brgy Simbalan in Buenavista declares CPP-NPA “Persona non-Grata”; prompted mass surrender

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – A new Barangay has awakened from the deceit and lies of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) which prompted mass surrender in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

Persona non-Grata

Barangay Simabalan of said town declares the CPP-NPA and its Allied Organizations such as Union ng Magsasaka sa Agusan del Norte, Katribu, Alliance of Concern Teachers (ACT), Karapatan, Anak Pawis, Anak Bayan, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, League of Filipino Students (LFS), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and other Terrorist Groups and its supporters as Persona Non-Grata last May 6, 2019.

Residents of Sitio Tagpangi who were weary of the revolutionary movement, deceptions and manipulations of CNTs in their community finally freed themselves by declaring the CNTs as unwanted in their community.

This happened when more or less 100 residents expressed their desire to unwelcome the CTGs and took their Pledge of Loyalty and Oath of Allegiance to the government. They also conducted burning of NPA flag led by Hon. Garry Domino, Sitio Chairman, assisted by Hon. Walter B Tuga, Chairperson of Brgy Simbalan, Buenavista, ADN, Mr. Felix Balansag, Municipal Administrator, Buenavista, ADN together with Lt Col Francisco L Molina Jr, Commander 23IB.

Hon. Domino said “This clearly indicates that we already cut-off support to the CNTs. We now give our full commitment and renewed obligation to support, protect and adhere to the peace and development programs of the government.”

Mass Surrender

The declaration of the CNTs as Persona non-Grata prompted two (2) regular members with one (1) Caliber. 45 pistol, four (4) Militia ng Bayan (MB) and twenty seven (27) members of Underground Mass Organizations (UGMO) to return to the folds of the law and pledge their Loyalty and Allegiance to the government.

According to @Maymay who turned-in one (1) cal. 45 pistol, “I had a bitter experience being with the NPA. All their promises were not fulfilled. My family did not receive any support from them. What they told us are all lies.”

LTC Molina Jr, commended the Barangay Officials and residents of Brgy Simbalan in their pursuit for peace and development in their area. “Our government is always willing to help you and we already established Peace and Development Zones (PDZ) to respond to all your issues and provide services to address problems which are commonly exploited by the CNTs. Also, we demand the CNTs to stop criminal and terroristic activities and instead go back to the folds of the law and avail the E-CLIP program of the government”, Molina added

Col Maurito L Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander said, “The people have spoken, the persona non-grata supported by the whole community is an expression of repugnance to what the CNT is doing in their community. History tells us that the CNT has brought only sufferings, death and misery to our people and it has not solved any of our problems. Only in an environment of peace that we could attain the changes we wanted in this country. We should work together for a just and lasting peace. We urge everyone to participate and help in peacefully addressing our problems”.

Meanwhile Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio M Gacal, Commander 4ID, emphasized “Let us all continue to work together in order to finally put an end to insurgency in CARAGA Region and Northern Mindanao.” “Those who have surrendered will be processed to become beneficiaries of the E-CLIP. We continue to reach out to those who are still up in the mountains to surrender and embrace a better life with your family in a peaceful community”, Gacal ended.