Davao City - The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-XI declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) as an organized criminal organization, in view of their violent acts that sowed widespread fear and anxiety among the people.

RPOC-XI Chair Governor Nelson Dayanghirang on Wednesday presided the first quarter meeting of the Council, which approved Resolution No. 2020-2, classifying the rebels as an organized crime group, pursuant to President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 374 declaring the CPP-NPA as terrorist organization and Republic Act 10168, otherwise known as the “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”

Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, who presented the motion at the meeting, stressed the rebels have long been involved in extortion, arson, kidnapping, killings, human-trafficking and terrorism in pursuing their protracted Maost armed struggle.

He said their wile of capitalizing on extreme poverty and government neglect will not work anymore since the present administration is sincere in intensifying the delivery of basic services and social development packages, particularly in implementing the president’s E.O. 70.

“Iba na ang gobyerno natin ngayon. Lahat ng programa para matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan gaya ng basic services, access roads, potable water, electricity at marami pang iba binibigay na natin, kasama ang ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan,” Jubahib said.

The governor made two more main motions related to the insurgency problem that were also unanimously approved by the Council.

These include the resolution proposing the strategic inter-regional collaboration for peace and internal security, particularly in ending local communist armed conflict (LCAC), as well as another resolution pushing for the closure of the UCCP-Haran.

In 2015, hundreds of tribesmen allegedly evacuated their communities and stayed at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines compound (UCCP Haran) after complaining about militarization in their areas.

However, both Police Regional Office-XI Regional Director PBGen. Filmore Escobal and 10th ID Commander Jose Faustino denied such reports, revealing the Lumads were cramped in the facility under enforced captivity by left-leaning organizations, who conveniently used the IPs for fund-raising and propaganda against the government.

DavNor News