Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Calatrava LGU declares NPA persona non grata

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 21, 2019): Calatrava LGU declares NPA persona non grata

Calatrava town has joined the list of local government units in the 1st district of Negros Occidental that declared the New People’s Army as “persona non grata”.

The declaration contained in a resolution approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of Calatrava, was also concurred in by Mayor Marilyn Era, Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, said yesterday.

This brought to three LGUs in the 1st district of Negros Occidental - Toboso, Escalante City and Calatrava - that declared the NPA as persona non grata, while the city officials of San Carlos City, in an approved resolution, also declared that communist rebels as “unwelcome” to their locality.


Logan said yesterday that the ceremonial declaration was made Monday during the flag raising ceremony by municipal officials held in front of the town hall, that also coincided with the second day of the Human Dimension and Peace Building seminar, initiated by the 79IB.

The Calatrava Sangguniang Bayan resolution states that they adhere to the principles of peace and order as an indispensable element in the development and progress of the municipality and thus, condemn any unlawful activities of the CPP-NPA as the threatens the economic, social and political stability of the place and its people.

The declaration of the NPA as persona non grata by some LGUs in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, was belittled by the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command in northern Negros, claiming that it has no effect at all on the people.

Ka Cecil Estrellla, in a statement, dismissed it as a publicity act, that will not solve the hunger being experienced by the people due to worsening crisis of unemployment.

Estrella added that the approved resolution is a desperate act of the Armed Forces to conceal their illusion that no one supports the revolutionary movement.

A day before the ceremonial declaration, Logansaid that 148 former NPA mass supporters from the barangays of Cambayobo, Hinab-ongan, Lalong, Macasilao, Marcelo, Menchaca, Minapasuk, Pantao and Winaswasan of Calatrava, severed their links with the rebel movement and pledged loyalty to government, after attending a peace building seminar at the town evacuation center.

They were joined by 179 residents of Toboso town, Logan said.

He added that the participants also marched in the town poblacion, displaying placards and streamers denouncing NPA atrocities and recruitment activities,

It was highlighted by the burning of a CPP-NPA flag.

Era also thanked the 79IB for their peacekeeping efforts in her town.

Logan also hailed the courage of local officials and their communities in denouncing the atrocities, deceptions and recruitment perpetrated by the CPP-NPA.

“Our Community Support Program operations will continue in order to sustain development and address other insurgency affected areas and influenced local folk,” Logan also said.

He also stressed that the courage and bravery shown by the people of Calatrava will encourage other LGUs and their constituents in Northern Negros to do the same and continue to support the peace initiatives of the government.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/August/21/topstory10.htm

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