THE municipal council of Toboso, Negros Occidental has unanimously declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as persona non grata or unwelcomed in their town.
The declaration is stated in Resolution 077- 2026 approved during its regular session on Tuesday, more than a week after the armed encounter between communist rebels and troops of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Salamanca that claimed the lives of 19 individuals identified as NPA members.
“(This) expresses the strong condemnation of the local government against insurgency and affirms its support for peace-building initiatives and lawful governance,” the resolution stated, adding that it also “aligns with the efforts of the national government, including the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in promoting sustainable peace and development”.
As such, the municipality led by Mayor Richard Jaojoco and Vice Mayor Maria Luisa de la Cruz “reiterates its full support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other government agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and security”.
The council said Toboso is “committed to promoting peace, public safety, and the general welfare of its constituents,” noting that the CPP-NPA-NDF has been “associated with acts of violence and armed insurgency in various parts of the country” and “the presence and activities of these groups in various parts of the country have resulted in violence, loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption of local development efforts”.
“The Municipal Council recognizes the need to protect the residents of Toboso from any threats posed by insurgent activities and to ensure a peaceful and progressive community,” it added.
It said copies of the resolution will be furnished to the Office of the President, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the provincial government of Negros Occidental, the military, the police, and other concerned agencies.
