The municipality of Aborlan is the fifth town in Palawan to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as “terrorist” and their organizations “persona non grata.”
Earlier this year, the towns of Brooke’s Point, Taytay, Araceli, and Dumaran passed the same resolution denouncing the CPP-NPA.
3rd Marine Brigade (3MBDe) public affairs officer Capt. Jordan Mijares said Thursday that the Aborlan town council approved the resolution last week.
“Last week lang ay nagpasa na ang local government ng Aborlan ng resolution declaring CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front as persona non grata. Pang-lima na ang Aborlan, nauna ang Brooke’s Point sunod Taytay, Araceli at Dumaran,” he said.
Mijares said that there is no need for actual sightings and presence of the rebels in their jurisdiction to make the declaration.
He said that it only shows that more local government units (LGUs) are now responding to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to end the armed conflict.
“Nagpapakita lang ‘yon na sumusuporta sila sa gusto ng pangulo na tapusin na ang [laban] sa NPA. Hindi pa rin kami o hindi naman talaga military operation ang susi para matapos na ang problema ng gobyerno sa NPA at hindi kailangan na magkaroon muna ng report na may NPA sa isang lugar,” he said.
Mijares said that the resolutions will help convince the rebels to surrender because they are not welcome in the towns.
“Hindi mo naman kailangan kilalanin kung sino ang NPA sa lugar mo bago mo sila ideklara na persona non grata. Kahit walang NPA sa lugar nila ay mas maganda na mag-declare sila kasi nagpapakita ‘yon na hindi welcome ang mga rebelde sa lugar nila. Kapag marami na ang nag-deklara ay lumiliit ang mundo ng NPA at kapag nangyari ‘yon mapipilitan silang makipag-usap at sumuko. Doon lang pwedeng matatapos ang gobyerno sa problema ng NPA,” Mijares said.
He admitted that mayors and local government officials may still expect threats after passing these resolutions against the rebels.
“Malamang natatakot [ang mga mayors dahil sa resolution] pero may political will kasi sila. Sino ba naman ang hindi matatakot, hindi ba? Lahat naman natatakot, kahit kami. Lahat naman siguro natatakot para sa buhay nila. Siguro in some instances threat sila pero hindi naman sila mananalo kasi hindi naman nila kayang humarap. Kaya nga ‘yong mga sparrow [unit] ‘yan na lang ang kaya nila,” Mijares said.
Earlier, Western Command (WESCOM) commander Vice Admiral Rene Medina said that the resolutions are in support of the objectives of Executive Order (EO) 70.
The EO mandates about the institutionalization of the “whole-of-nation approach” in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace through the creation of a national task force to end the local communist armed conflict.
The town of Quezon is also set to pass the same resolution.
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