DILG tells CPP: LGUs are no dimwit, stupid puppets

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año  on Sunday slammed the Communist Party of the Philippines for alleging that local government units were forced to declare the CPP, the New People's Army, and the National Democratic Front persona non grata.

Not letting the CCP's insolence pass, Año said LGUs are not dumb, or dimwit, or stupid puppets.  

“Please do not insult the intelligence of our local government officials. Hindi mangmang ang mga LGUs at hindi sila madidiktahan na gumawa ng mga bagay na labag sa kanilang kalooban. Ang katotohanan ay mulat ang mga mata nila at saksi sila sa panloloko ng CPP-NPA-NDF sa kanilang mga lugar." 

According to Año, the CPP insinuated that LGUs were being forced to declare the communist rebels as "unwanted persons" (personae non grata) in their localities, under threat of withholding their budget.

On the contrary, he said, "they are very much aware of the situation on the ground, of harassment  and extortion activities by the communist rebels on businesses and ambuscades and raids on government forces that has led to some 40,000 deaths of police, military, and civilians in its more than 50-year reign of terror in the countryside."

"Kaya hindi naman nakapagtataka na ideklara ng higit sa 1,500 LGUs na persona non grata ang mga criminal at teroristang ito dahil matagal na silang nagpapahirap sa bayan at salot sa lipunan," he said.

Recently, the DILG announced that a total of 1,546 LGUs nationwide have declared the CPP-NPA-NDF as persona non grata in their localities.

In response, the CPP released a statement saying that the said LGUs were merely forced to pass the declaration otherwise their budget would be withheld.

According to Año, the annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for LGUs is released and downloaded automatically to them in accordance with the provision of the Constitution. —LBG, GMA News