Davao de Oro: Residents of Davao de Oro have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and legal front organizations as persona non grata within the territorial jurisdiction of the three towns of the Province.
A total of 33 barangays from the municipalities of Mawab, Mabini and Pantukan were successfully declared as persona non-grata.
The declaration is part of the national peace framework and institutionalize the whole-of-nation approach. This aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace, of carefully getting to the root causes of conflicts in the whole province.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Sonny E. Gonzalez of 71st IB, the declaration of the CPP-NPA-NDF as persona of non grata “adheres to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to end local armed conflict through the whole of nation and whole of government approach.”
“To attain sustainable peace and development, we should have a strong commitment and nominal stand to stop the insurgency along the province,” said Lieutenant Kim Carlos of 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) Civil Military Operations (CMO).
Mayor Ruperto Gonzaga III of Mawab said that everyone’s pledge and determination in ending the 51 years of insurgency will be our jumping board towards genuine peace and development.
On the other hand, Mayor Reynaldo Dayanghirang of Mabini, urged everyone to fully cooperate and sincerely commit in not welcoming the rebels.
“Each and every one of us should have part in attaining lasting peace, and that is the whole of nation’s approach. Gone are the days that we leave the work on ending insurgency to the uniformed men. It is our duty as public servants and as residents of Pantukan to end insurgency,” said Mayor Roberto Yugo of Pantukan.
The ex-rebels challenged everyone not to succumb to the stigma of fear they created but grasp some courage to stand against the insurgency they bring throughout the province.
Residents and Barangay Officials convened for oath taking ceremony of “Panata Para sa Kapayapaan” which symbolizes for full support and unity to stand with the President’s call to end armed local conflict. (Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao De Oro)