NPA declared ‘persona non grata’ in 2 villages

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Residents in two villages in Negros Occidental has vowed to support the government by recently declaring the New People’s Army (NPA) as “persona non grata.”

These villages are Barangay Macagahay headed by Captain Francis Necesito in Moises Padilla town and Barangay Sebucauan headed by Amy Locsin in Isabela town.

According to the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), the residents took oath of allegiance for peace last week and signed a resolution declaring the communist NPA unwelcome in their respective barangays.

Activities also included peace advocacy symposium, candle lighting ceremony, and burning of the NPA flag which symbolizes their denouncement on the presence of the said armed group in their respective communities.

Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said the activity was part of the transformation that this organization will take part in the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte for the implementation of Executive Order No. 70, which is the institutionalization of the whole of nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict.

The whole activity also reflects the importance of unity among the stakeholders to end the insurgency in the said villages, he added.

Dacoscos also expressed his gratitude to the village officials for the commitment and dedication in partnering with them to attain one mutual goal, which is to end the insurgency problem in every vulnerable community so that the delivery of basic services to the people will not hamper.

“There is no more space for this armed group to take over the community and do their dual tactics by deceiving the people of their true intentions. This should be stop at once, or else, they will suffer the outrage of the people,” he said.