5 N. Samar towns declared insurgency-free
CATARMAN, Northern Samar , Philippines – At least five of Northern Samar’s 24 municipalities have been declared insurgency-free.
Security forces and local officials declared the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio and San Vicente “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready areas†during a meeting at the governor’s official residence here last Thursday.
Except for Allen, the four others are island municipalities located in the northwestern tip of Northern Samar, a second-class province.
“These towns recorded zero NPA activities in the past several years,†Gov. Jose Ong said.
“Constituents of these secured municipalities are now (given assurance of having) to live happier,†he said.
Being insurgency-free, according to Ong, is significant as this “will pave the way for the launching of more development projects†in the five towns.
Capt. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the Amy’s 8th Infantry Division, said an area is declared insurgency-free or “manageable†if the rebels’ strength there is insignificant to influence the residents.
“Once an area is declared as such, the lead role of maintaining peace and order will be transferred from the military to local officials,†Gutierrez said.
Samar provinces are known to have a huge concentration of communist insurgents. Other areas with strong rebel presence are the Negros provinces and the Davao and Bicol regions.
Earlier, Borongan City and 13 towns in Eastern Samar were also declared insurgency-free.
The 13 towns are Lawaan, Taft, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Hernani, San Julian, San Policarpio, Sulat, Salcedo, Guiuan, Mercedes, Balangiga, and Llorente.
Brig. Gen. Jet Velarmino, 8th ID commander, said the people of these municipalities have spoken and have taken their first positive step in moving forward toward sustainable development and progress.
“As we join them in their victory, I also encourage everyone to sustain what you have started. Let us nurture what we have just achieved and commit ourselves to winning the peace,†Velarmino said.
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