Negros Occ. town denounces rebels

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The municipality of Isabela in Negros Occidental is the latest local government unit (LGU) in the province to denounce the New People’s Army (NPA).

It was officially announced yesterday during the ceremonial signing of Resolution No. 2019-82, declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF) and their organization members as “persona non-grata” in the town.

Mayor Irene Montilla, along with Vice Mayor Renato Malabor Jr., Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), and Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander led the signing of the resolution approved by the municipal council last October 18, 2019.

Almost 1,000 individuals composed of government officials and employees, barangay officials in 30 villages, teachers and students, religious sector, policemen, military, personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines also joined the walk for peace towards the town’s public plaza.

It was followed by an Oath for Peace or “Pagsumpa para sa Kalinong” led by Councilor Elsa Candelario while Dacoscos led the Oath of Allegiance or “Panumpa para sa Katutom sa Republika sang Pilipinas.”

The activity also included candle lighting and burning of the CPP-NPA-NDF flags as a sign of total denouncement to the said organization. They also released white balloons and doves as a sign of peace.

Montilla extended her gratitude to her constituents for this active participation, adding that “this is the time to end the chaos and damage brought by these groups with false ideology.”

To my constituents, we should never again allow ourselves to be deceived by the NPA. Let us stand by our guided principle which is to bring peace to this municipality, the local chief executive said. We will let investors and other business sectors to tie with us, in order to also deliver progress to all. Together, we will rise as one”, she added.

For his part, Arevalo, in his message, said that the municipality shows great cooperation and holistic effort for making the said activity successful.

This is also part of our transformation advocacy wherein we are now gradually mobilizing the whole of nation approach, he added.

It can be recalled that the cities of Escalante and San Carlos, as well as the towns of Calatrava and Toboso in the province had also previously declared the NPA persona non-grata in their respective areas.