Military says Northern Luzon 'insurgency-free'

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has declared the entire Northern Luzon area rebel-free.

The announcement came after Pampanga province became the 22nd province to be declared insurgency-free.

According to the Northern Luzon Command based in Camp Aquino in San Miguel, Tarlac, the historic declaration signing that ended the decades-old problem of communist insurgency in Northern Luzon was attended by AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista, Northern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Army 7th Infantry Division commander Major General Hernando Iriberri, Army 703rd  Brigade commander Brigadier General Henry Sabarrre, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Myrvi Fabia and Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Oscar Albayalde.

Bautista said he was glad to be able to witness the transformation of Pampanga from a hot bed of socialist and anti-government movements to an insurgency-free area. 

“It signifies our victorious quest against poverty and the plight of the people caused by rebel forces. This also puts an end to our 45 years of battle against insurgency,” the AFP chief said.

Pineda meanwhile acknowledged the efforts and hard work of all local chief executives and chiefs of police in all towns and cities in order to attain this status,  the Northern Luzon Command said.
 
Pampanga, like other provinces earlier declared as rebel-free, is now delegated to the PNP to lead the role in fighting the remnants of insurgents with the support of the military that will remain primarily for stakeholder engagement programs.

The MOA signed in the declaration is also a formal demonstration of different local and other government agencies joint efforts to reinvigorate their role in peace and development in their community.

The Northern Luzon Command said other provinces in Regions 1,2,3 and Cordillera were declared rebel-free between 2009 and 2013:  La Union and Nueva Viscaya in 2009; Apayao, Aurora, Quirino, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Kalinga in 2010; Ilocos Norte and Benguet in 2011; Zambales, Abra and Bataan in 2012; and Batanes, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Cagayan, Ifugao, Bulacan and Mt. Province in 2013. - Artemio A. Dumlao