NPA Rebels Declared ‘Persona Non Grata’ in Region 1

Members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and the Regional Development Council (RDC), both in Region 1, have declared the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – New People’s Army (NPA) as persona non grata in the Ilocos provinces.

The declaration was made on March 29 at Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union during the joint 1st Quarter meeting of RPOC and RDC presided by Major General Lenard T. Agustin, commander of the army’s 7th Infantry Division.

It was during the meeting when the members of the RPOC-1 and RDC-1 approved unanimously RPOC Resolution No. 1 Series of 2019 condemning the unlawful acts committed by CPP – NPA Terrorists (CNTs) and declaring them as persona non grata.

Agustin said the declaration of CNTs as persona non grata in the Ilocos region is the first step in line with President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 which institutionalizes the “Whole of Nation Approach” and created a National Task Force to end the local communist armed conflict and attain inclusive and sustainable peace.

The declaration was considered as timely in view of the recent 50th anniversary of the NPA.

Agustin cited that it is only now that the country has taken the insurgency concern at the very root of the problem and that the government is giving a great importance to the “whole-of-nation approach.”

He claimed that for 50 years, the CPP-NPA-NDF has been getting funding by deceiving the people and other nations of the real insurgency and crime situation in the Philippines, exaggerating statistics, creating havoc and obstructing progress.

Further, he said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is commendably taking the road towards good governance through the Army Transformation Roadmap adding that “we are more than ever determined to stop terrorism and violence.”

“Through the whole-of-nation approach with the support of all sectors in the community and the leading government agencies, cutting insurgency to its roots may finally become a reality,” said Agustin. (JNPD/FGL/PIA- 1)