By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A total of 145 individuals composed of captains and other village officials in all 17 barangays in Sipalay City denounced the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
This, after all the villages passed a resolution declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF persona-non-grata during the activity held at the covered court of Barangay Montilla Gil last Friday.
Such move, according to the Army, signified the commitment of the villagers in preventing and removing the influence of the CPP-NPA-NDF in their communities.
The barangay officials were reminded of their duties and responsibilities to ensure the realization and operationalization of the Barangay Task force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).
A peace parade, and insurgency and Anti-Terrorism Law awareness were conducted to strengthen their understanding on the campaign against insurgency.
The activity was a collaborative effort of various local, provincial, and regional government agencies facilitated by the 15th IB through the support and collaboration of the city government led by Mayor Maria Gina Lizares, who was also present during the program.
Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Cariño, commander of Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, in a statement, said the activity is a good start in devoting themselves to being exemplars of peace and development.
Cariño said that declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF as persona-non-grata to the public is a bold move in eradicating and totally preventing communist terrorist group (CTG) influence in the city.
“It’s time to shift our mindset and behavior as we cannot be afraid of this menace in the society,” he added.
For his part, Colonel Leo Peña, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade (IBde), acknowledged the collaborative peace initiatives of all the barangay local chief executives in the city.
He urged them to be more participative in the whole of government and whole of nation approach to further alienate the public from the rebels.
