By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The City Council of Escalante in Negros Occidental recently approved a resolution declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as persona non grata.
The signing of the resolution was led by Mayor Melecio Yap and Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, commander of 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, during the flag raising ceremony at the city public plaza last Monday.
By virtue of the City Resolution No. 2019-050, as approved by the Sagguniang Panglungsod, adopting Resolution No. 2019-002 of the City’s Peace and Order Council (CPOC), the city denounced the atrocities perpetuated by the communist terrorists groups.
The resolution stated that a safe and secured environment is an important factor in foresting investment and economic growth. Peace and Order unites religions and culture, incorporating values of security and harmony together with justice and respect for human dignity.
“Whereas, there is need for a united and concerted effort with the police, military and civilian population for the prevention and deterrence of any terrorism, insurgency, and highly organized crimes in the 21 barangays of Escalante City,” the resolution added.
Logan commended the city officials for their appropriate action against the terrorist groups.
Logan said such development is a manifestation of support from the local government unit (LGU) and the people in the campaign against terrorism and criminalities of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“This is a result of our rationalized localized peace talk and continued conduct of intensified community support program operations starting from the CPP-NPA mass and guerilla bases, affected mass/people’s organization and mass supporters from the countryside to the urban areas who have surrendered and totally turned their back and withdrew their support and denounced the wrong doings of the communist terrorists in the locality, as manifested in the series of successful operations and armed encounters against the terrorist groups in Northern Negros,” Logan said.
He is hoping that the cohesive display of moral courage and bravery of the people of Escalante will encourage other LGUs in Western Visayas, especially in northern Negros to declare the same and to continue to support the peace initiatives of the government.
The city of San Carlos and Toboso town had also previously declared CPP-NPA as persona non grata.
