Moreno: Remove ‘persona non grata’ banners vs CPP-NPA-NDF in Manila City

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has ordered the Manila City-wide removal of tarpaulins that declared the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as persona non grata in the National Capital Region (NCR).

According to the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO), Moreno issued the directive on Wednesday and urged for compassion in this time of a health crisis.

“We spread love, not hate, in this time of pandemic,” Moreno said, as relayed by MPIO.

Several banners and tarpaulins saying the CPP-NPA-NDF is not welcome have been spotted in various areas in Metro Manila – from NCR’s borders along the North Luzon Expressway to Marcos Highway, C-5 Road, and Manila City, among other places.

Some of the tarpaulins, including the one spotted along Roxas Boulevard, bore the logo of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Earlier, PNP Chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said the tarpaulins were a project by the NTF-ELCAC, in coordination with the communities.

Cascolan then advised the CPP-NPA-NDF to refrain from committing abuses and avoid causing harm during rallies, or else the police would be forced to respond to their actions.

READ: PNP: Tarp in Manila declaring Reds persona non grata in NCR from NTF-ELCAC

The move to declare the communist rebels and other progressive movements as persona non grata stemmed from the government’s push for localized peace talks as negotiations between President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and the CPP-NDF stalled due to various issues.

READ: Año to LGUs: Declare Reds persona non grata 

In 2019, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said local officials should reject the communist movement to end the decades-long insurgency.

KGA