ABOUT 600 residents of Carol-an village in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front, declaring them as “persona non-grata.”
This came after the killing of village watchman Cornelio Morales, 40, allegedly perpetrated by the rebels on January 29.
Village chief Jucerel Paculanag told the rebels that they are no longer welcome in the barangay.
“Do not enter again in our barangay,” he said as a message to the rebels.
The residents also shared their experiences with the rebel group particularly on alleged extortion.
“This is an ancestral domain and all of our residents want to live peacefully and we will never let the same fate happen again to anyone of us,” he said.
“Hand in hand, we will work together for peace,” he added.
The residents during the “pulong-pulong” led by the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army also took an oath of allegiance to the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
For his part, Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, commander of 62nd IB who led the oathtaking, said the residents vowed to continue their loyalty to the constitution and withdraw support from the communist terrorists.
The presence of the barangay officials and the residents is a manifestation of their full support and cooperation to the Philippine Army, he added. (Christopher D. Yanson, CHMSC Talisay Intern)