By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – More than 120 residents from different sitios of Barangay Nangka, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental declared the New People’s Army (NPA) persona non grata during a peace rally organized by the Army at Nangka Agrarian Reform Farmers Association (NARFA) site last Monday.
The declaration followed the passage of a barangay resolution signed by the barangay officials led by chairman Roel Cadalso.
Participants carried posters and tarpaulins with messages calling for an end to the atrocities and violations of human rights perpetrated by the NPA, the Army said.
Residents also burned NPA flags to show that they strongly condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA, the Army said.
The activity was also highlighted with the oath of allegiance and giving of livelihood package vouchers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to the Nangka United Farmers Association (NUFA) beneficiaries to support their daily living. The vouchers included livestock, feeds, pigs, compressors for vulcanizing, sari-sari store, and fertilizers.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramir Redosendo, commander of Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB), in a statement, said the activity only shows that rebels are not welcome in Barangay Nangka.
Redosendo said the residents made a clear commitment of support to the government’s fight against communist insurgency.
Also present during the activity were Jonas Trias, representative of Bayawan Peace and Order Council, Mayor Pryde Henry Teves, Police Lieutenant Tomas Wagas Tanutan, deputy police chief of Bayawan City Police Station, Elena Taburada, representative of the Department of Agriculture, Cindy Salimbagat, City Public Safety Office (CPSO), and Jannette Behagan, Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO).
