Mayor okays city council move vs armed conflict

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong has signed a resolution passed by the city council adopting the articles of declaration against armed conflict.  The declaration seeks to support the vision of a  lasting peace, people’s participation in governance through peaceful means, and the respect of all kinds of political ideologies within the democratic framework.

The declaration states:  Baguio City enjoys the blessings of democracy, its citizens have the right to a peaceful community, thus, it will protect its citizens against the evils of armed conflict by reason of ideologies; The Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front, its officers and members for as long as they support and advocate armed struggle to overthrow the existing government are declared Persona Non Grata; and the City likewise declares Persona Non Grata to all armed groups that are engaged in terrorist activities.

Resolution No. 42, series of 2020, says the Philippines is yet to end the longest armed struggle waged by the CPP, its armed group, the NPA, and its political arm, the NDF, whose objective is to overthrow the existing government system by force.

It disclosed that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has issued Executive Order No. 70, series of 2018, which has institutionalized the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and directing the adoption of a national peace framework.

Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Ano has asked local officials around the country to declare the CPP and the NPA as Persona Non Grata (unwelcome or unacceptable) to show their support for the government’s fight to end the communist  conflict that has been waged for 50 years.

Sec. Ano called upon the help of  local government units, the public, and all other stakeholders  to declare communist rebels unwelcome in their localities to ensure that no support would reach the group.

       He said that there must be a wholistic approach not only to bring the communist rebels to the fold of the law but to protect the citizens from the evils of armed conflict by joining them or as support base of the armed struggle.-gaby keith