Military says Tarlac province now 'insurgency-free'

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Tarlac province is now “free” from the presence of the communist underground movement, according to the military.

The Provincial Peace and Order Council Resolution No. 02 series of 2023 categorized the province as "cleared and unaffected" by the communist insurgency and is relatively peaceful, the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines declared Friday.

Nolcom spokesman Major Al Anthony Pueblas said Tarlac was once a hotbed of insurgency for being the birthplace of the New People's Army (NPA) in 1969.

Pueblas added that the latest declaration makes Tarlac the first province in Region 3 to achieve a state of “stable internal peace and security”.

He explained that the PPOC resolution indicated that the presence of Leftist fighters operating in Tarlac province, particularly the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya-Tarlac-Zambales (TARZAM) that was officially declared weakened in 2022, have been significantly reduced.

This can be attributed to the combined efforts of the Nolcom’s, Philippine National Police, Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF ELCAC), member agencies of the PPOC, and the provincial government of Tarlac, Pueblas added. 

In her message during the formal declaration of her province as "insurgency-free", Governor Susan Yap emphasized the importance of peace in achieving regional progress. 

Yap added that the declaration would attract more investors and provide more opportunities for the people of Tarlac.

"Tarlac has been fighting for peace because, without peace, development and progress will not come,” she said.

“Peace could only be achieved through open communication with the people and finding solutions to their problems,” she added.