BUTUAN CITY — The New People’s Army has been declared “persona non grata” (unwanted persons) in one province, two cities, 36 municipalities, and 413 barangays in Region 13 and Region 10, Major Regie H. Go, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, said yesterday.
Go said that San Francisco and Loreto, both of Agusan del Sur, and Tagbina, Surigao del Sur officially declared the NPA as personan non grata through resolutions passed by their respective peace and order councils.
“Through their respective towns and barangay POCs, the CNTs and their ‘front organization’ were declared as unwanted in their respective communities,” Go said.
These towns and their respective barangays are committed to become conflict-resilient, he said.
“There are 208 communities (barangays) in Caraga and Region 10 that already sent their advance information to our field units that they are ready to announce their proclamation, declaring the CPP-NPA as unwanted in their respective communities,” the 4th ID Public Affairs Office chief said.
He added that the intensified “whole-of-nation” approach and “peaceful war” efforts of the local government units, together with the 4th ID under the leadership of Major Gen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal and other stakeholders, are causing the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA to lose ground and hold of their mass supporters, resulting in their continuing disintegration.
The command group of the 4th ID appreciated the efforts and initiatives of the LGUs in their “gallant stand and genuine concern of protecting and saving their constituents against the deception and lies” of the CPP which, for 50 years, has been a major “hindrance for peace and development.” (Mike Crismundo)
