Another village junks rebels

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A VILLAGE in Laua-an town was the first area in Antique province to vocally toss out the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Barangay Pandanan in Laua-an is the latest to declare the CPP-NPA as persona non grata.

The move is contained in Pandanan Barangay Peace and Order Council Resolution No. 01, Series of 2019 on September 7, 2019 where it condemns the terroristic acts that are relentlessly committed by the CPP-NPA terrorists.

Captain Cenon Pancito III, Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, said that Pandanan is a small community yet its people took the cudgels to denounce the rebel group.

The resolution stated that “the village is gaining socio-economic advancement but has been affected due to the series of atrocities perpetrated by the communist-terrorist group.”

It also highlighted that “in order to ensure the comprehensive orchestration of related peace efforts and initiatives in the multi-sector campaign against insurgency, the village council is giving its support to the unified condemnation of the CPP-NPA terrorist who are responsible for the series of atrocities in the barangay that victimize not only security forces but also private properties and most of all defenseless civilians.”

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batarac 61st Infantry Battalion commander, lauded the people of Pandanan in Laua-an for this action.

“What more could be commendable than people standing up against the communist terrorists?” he said.

Batara also encouraged other barangays and municipalities in Antique to follow the lead of Pandanan.

He said every community should take a bold step against CPP-NPA terrorist to prevent the group from entering and casting more threats and violence in their communities.

The towns of Janiuay and Iloilo province have also passed a resolution declaring the CPP-NPA as persona non grata.

Similar resolutions passed by Barangays Barasan, Igbaras on Aug. 3 and Grande in Calinog on Aug. 24 also declared the rebel group as persona non grata.