SAN LUIS, Aurora , Philippines – Military officials, political leaders and residents of this town signed on Thursday a covenant for peace and vowed to end the communist insurgency which has stunted economic growth and development in the province over the past several years.
The peace covenant was intended to address the root causes of insurgency in support of the insurgency-free Aurora campaign launched last year by the Army and the provincial government.
Lt. Col. Elias Escarcha, commander of the Army’s 48th Infantry (Guardians) Battalion, said the peace covenant was the result of his camp’s massive information dissemination campaign aimed at formulating a lasting solution to the insurgency problem in the province.
Signatories to the peace covenant were Mayor Annabelle Tangson, representing the San Luis municipal government; Senior Superintendent Romulo Esteban, provincial police director; and 1Lt. Ronaldo Ferrer, 48th IB civil-military operations officer.
The signing was witnessed by representatives of the religious and business sectors, 50 barangay leaders, and heads of various government agencies.
The covenant binds the municipal government of San Luis to take an active part in providing the basic needs of communities to address the basic reasons why insurgency thrives.
Tangson said the covenant signing would signal a new milestone in the town insofar as peace and development is concerned, adding that insurgency has created an atmosphere far from conducive to economic development.
She added that the peace covenant signifies the courage and dedication of the people of San Luis to finally end the insurgency by involving themselves in activities related to internal security operations, including the counter-insurgency efforts of the Army and the police.
Esteban said unity among all sectors would help maintain peace and order amid threats from communist rebels.
The municipal government would establish an Ugnayan Center through the municipal peace and order council that would monitor the covenant’s implementation as well as a municipal social integration committee to facilitate a comprehensive integration plan for former rebels.
Escarcha said political will would help end insurgency in the province, adding that the San Luis townsfolk are lucky to have leaders who have the political will to end the communist reign in their localities.
The peace covenant shows communist rebels that they “no longer have a place in San Luis,” he said.