279 WV villages declare NPA ‘persona non grata’

From Panay News (Oct 23, 2020): 279 WV villages declare NPA ‘persona non grata’ (By Ruby Silubrico)

In Western Visayas, 279 barangays have declared the New People’s Army (NPA) persona non grata, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The most recent of these villages were Aglinab, Acuña, Tacayan, and Roosevelt in Tapaz, Capiz; sand Carigangan, Masaroy, Caratagan, Aglonok, and Marandig in Calinog, Iloilo.

Such declarations manifest the disinterest of communities in supporting the rebels, according to Army Major Cenon Pancito III, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson.

Western Visayas is made up of 4,051 barangays. Pancito said more barangay officials across the region are expected to rally their constituents into signing peace covenants supporting the AFP’s anti-insurgency campaign.

“This is what our country needs – communities denouncing violence and aligning with government initiatives. The people have suffered much from more than 50 years of insurgency. They deserve better and peaceful lives,” Pancito said.

The Army official earlier disclosed the national government’s plan to give P20 million to each barangay that is cleared of rebels and P1.5 million to threatened-barangays.

This financial assistance is under the P16-billion “Barangay Development Program” of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Under the program, barangays deemed “cleared” from insurgency will be rewarded million-worth of projects.

http://www.panaynews.net/279-wv-villages-declare-npa-persona-non-grata/