Negros town declares CPP-NPA-NDFP ‘persona non grata’

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — The municipal council of Toboso in Negros Occidental has unanimously declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) “persona non grata” (unwelcome or unacceptable) within the municipality’s territorial jurisdiction.

The resolution, approved during the council’s regular session on Tuesday, urged all villages in Toboso to support the declaration and strengthen programs promoting peace, unity, and development.

It also expressed the municipality’s full support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and other government agencies in their ongoing efforts to maintain peace and security.

The resolution cited the April 19 armed encounter between government forces and the NPA in Sitio (subvillage) Plarending, Barangay Salamanca, which resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals whom the military identified as NPA members.

READ: 2 Fil-Ams, 2nd UP student among slain ‘Negros 19’

According to the resolution, the incident caused fear among residents and disrupted socioeconomic activities in the affected community.

Promoting peace

The municipal council noted that the town remains committed to promoting peace, order, public safety, and the general welfare of its constituents.

It also described the CPP-NPA-NDFP—referred to by government authorities as communist terrorist groups—as being linked to acts of violence and armed insurgency nationwide, noting that such activities have historically resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property, and setbacks in local development.

The resolution was based on the recommendation of the Municipal Peace and Order Council, which called for measures condemning insurgency-related violence and expressing support for national security efforts.

According to the resolution, the declaration aligns with the government’s campaign under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to achieve “lasting peace and development.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who was in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, said she supports a full, objective, and impartial investigation to determine what really happened in Barangay Salamanca that led to the deaths of 19 individuals.

“Only on the basis of truth can there be justice,” she said, adding that she supports the investigation being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights, which she said is in the best position to establish the facts.

Hontiveros also extended condolences to the families of all 19 casualties.

The CPP on Monday identified the 19 fatalities, claiming that 10 were armed NPA members while nine were civilians.

The AFP and PNP have yet to release the full identities of the casualties but maintained that all 19 were NPA combatants killed in a series of encounters between the 79th Infantry Battalion and rebel forces on April 19. /cb