Task force says not behind tarpaulins declaring CPP persona non grata in Manila

October 22, 2020

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday denied that they are not involved in the putting up of tarpaulins declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as persona non grata in a bridge in Manila City.

In a statement, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy said the use of their old and outdated logo is a “dead giveaway” that the tarpaulin is not their handiwork.

“The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, although not directly involved in the putting up of tarpaulins declaring the CPP NPA NDF as persona non grata in the metropolis, fully supports and lauds this message of a people united in their disgust and rage against this communist terrorist group that has caused so much death and destruction to our people and the obstruction of progress and the attainment of genuine peace in our beloved country for over 52 years now,” Badoy said.

She said the message in the tarpaulin is the stand and sentiment that has been re-echoed all across the country with 20,058 LGUs.

Badoy said 60 provinces, 96 cities, 1,204 municipalities and 18,698 barangays have issued resolutions declaring the CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata with no instigation from the Task Force.

“It is also not the place of the NTF ELCAC to declare any entity as persona non grata but a declaration that can only come from the people themselves. And this includes the CPP-NPA-NDF,” she said.

“We, are thus overjoyed that in clear and unequivocal terms, the people have spoken and made their will known that the CPP NPA NDF is not welcome in their lives and on their land for all harm this violent extremist group has caused the most helpless, the most vulnerable in our midst like our indigenous peoples and our youth and the poorest of the poor,” Badoy said.

Under Proclamation 374 , the CPP-NPA-NDF has been identified by the Philippine government as a terrorist organization and the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand have done the same.

Badoy said the NTF-ELCAC awaits the day when the entire country stands its ground and declares this communist terrorist group persona non grata.

“Then and only then will we know real peace… Then and only then can we find comfort and joy knowing we are leaving to our children and future generations of Filipinos a country in much better shape than we found it, finally free from the grip of this evil, inhumane and obsolete ideology- communism,” she said.

Both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government denied any involvement in the incident.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno immediately ordered the removal of the tarpaulin saying that Filipinos should spread love and not hate during this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Ella Dionisio/DMS