Malacañang stressed that the communist groups have no supporters and followers.
This was the response of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque to the accusation of several members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is forcing local government units (LGUs) to declare the reds as persona non grata.
The DILG initially declined the accusation. Sec. Roque pointed out that communist groups have no basis for their statement and highlighted that the department does not need to force the LGUs since no one is siding with the leftists.
“Ang US State Department ang tawag nga nila sa CPP-NPA ay terorista. Kung sila ay terorista, iwe-welcome mo pa ba sila? Huwag silang magalit sa mga LGU na nagparatang na sila ay persona non grata dahil in this civilized world, wala po talagang humahanga sa mga terorista (The US State Department has called the CPP-NPA as terrorists. If they are terrorists, will you still welcome them? They should not be angry with the LGUs declaring them as persona non grata because in this civilized world, no one idolizes terrorists.)” Sec. Roque asserted. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
