2 more C. Luzon towns declare CPP-NPA 'persona non grata'

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 28, 2019): 2 more C. Luzon towns declare CPP-NPA 'persona non grata'

BALER, Aurora – Two more towns in Central Luzon have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as "persona non-grata", the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) said Friday.

Lt. Col. Jose Mari F. Torrenueva, 91IB commander, commended the municipalities of Laur in Nueva Ecija and Maria Aurora in Aurora for passing resolutions declaring through their respective Municipal Peace and Order Councils (MPOCs) the leftist movement “unwelcomed” in their jurisdictions.

He assured that the military troops will continue to support the local government units (LGUs) for their cooperation with President Rodrigo Duterte and the national government’s efforts to rid the country of communist-terrorist rebels.

“The Philippine Army will continue to support such unified move which aims to condemn the actions of the terrorists that disregard the country’s campaign in attaining peace,” Torrenueva said.

The MPOC of Maria Aurora approved the resolution declaring the communist organization as persona non grata during its meeting on Thursday at the town's Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.

The MPOC of Laur, on the other hand, approved the resolution during its meeting Wednesday at the Mayor’s Office.

The meeting was presided by Mayor Alexander A. Daus and attended by different department heads of the local government, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, 91st Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt. Candidato S. Paduman and Laur Municipal Police Station led by chief of police Capt. Jonathan S. Romero.

“This is the LGU’s step in asserting that the municipality is ready for long lasting peace to attain sustainable development. In order to maintain peace and order in the community and suppress the lawless violence that creates havoc, fear and panic among the populace, members of CPP-NPA are now unwelcomed,” the resolution read.

Torrenueva is optimistic that the number of LGUs declaring CPP-NPA as persona non grata will continue to rise as the government is relentless in its efforts to end insurgency in the country.

He also encouraged other LGUs to stand up for the fight against terrorism by rejecting the presence or existence of the rebel group in their localities.

The two LGUs in Central Luzon that earlier declared the communist organization as persona non grata are Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan under Mayor Ronaldo T. Flores, and Carrangalan, Nueva Ecija under Mayor Mary B. Abad.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1073592