Declaring CPP-NPA as ‘persona-non-grata’ “your duty,” JPE reminds LGUs

FORMER Senate President and the country’s only Senior Statesman, Juan Ponce Enrile, said that rejecting terrorism and declaring terrorist groups like the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), as ‘persona-non-grata’ is not only a personal choice but also, part of the duty of local government officials.

This was emphasized by Enrile in a social media post on December 16, 2020, in reaction to the question by ‘Arlene Escalante’ in her FB page if people should agree that “all mayors” should declare the CPP-NPA-NDF as ‘persona-non-grata’ (PNG).

In reaction, Enrile said:

“Why not? In fact, they should, as a matter of duty.

“Pag nagtagumpay ang mga Kumunista sa ating bansa, walang mga puesto yan lahat na yan na mga barangay captains, consejales, mayors, vice mayors, board members, vice governors, governors, congressmen and congresswomen, senators, Vice President and President.

“Kaya obligacion ng mga yan na ipaglaban nila ang kanilang mga puesto, maliban na lamang kung sila mismo ay miembro ng CPP-NPA organization.”

It can be recalled that as the country’s defense secretary, Enrile rushed to Palanan, Isabela, in late June 1972, on learning that a shipload of arms from mainland China had landed and intended for the use of the CPP-NPA in their bid to topple the government thru violence.

It was this arms shipment that eventually forced the hand of then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos to declare martial law several months later, on September 21, 1972.

Insofar as the Marcos administration was concerned, the incident was conclusive proof that the CPP-NPA had actively solicited foreign support to bring down the government and establish their version of a communist state in the country.

Martial law subsequently led to the arrest of CPP founder, Jose Maria Sison, NPA ‘supremo’ Bernabe ‘Kumander Dante’ Buscayno and Sen. Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., who were all tried for sedition and rebellion and found guilty by a military court for conspiring to bring down the government thru armed force.

Enrile’s reminder to LGUs that it is part of their duty to condemn the CPP-NPA came on the heels of the report by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo M. Año, that thus far, 1,546 LGUs all over the country had already declared the CPP-NPA-NDF as “PNGs’ in their respective areas.

Similarly, these LGUs also expressed their support for the ‘National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’ (NF-ELCAC).

Under Executive Order 70 signed by Pres. Duterte in late 2018 and which created the task force, LGUs and other instrumentalities of the government are mandated to support the task force and its major objective of finally ending the 52-years old communist insurgency thru the ‘Whole of Nation, Whole of Government’ strategy.

While urging the LGUs to condemn the CPP-NPA, Enrile also reminded them to exercise restraint and respect the ‘Bill of Rights’ when face with street demonstrations.

“Dapat naman igalang ng mga mayors at alagad ng gobierno ang bill of rights natin.

“Huwag labagin and karapatan ng mga mamamayan kung ang kanilang assembly o rally ay peaceful, walang mga gulo, o subersibo o seditious na panalita sa assembly o rally,” the venerable statesman said.