3 Visayas provinces now insurgency-free

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Three provinces in Visayas are now free from insurgents, an official said yesterday.

Col. Rafael Valencia, commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City, identified the provinces as Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte.

Valencia cited their coordination with concerned local government units, local communities and non-government organizations for the success of the campaign against counter insurgency.

Valencia said the Army is also doing its best to make the provinces of Northern Samar, Western Samar and Eastern Samar insurgency-free.

Northern Samar Gov. Paul Daza,  chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, said his support to the measures being undertaken by the military and the police in the province has elicited violent reactions from communist rebels. 

In a press statement last Nov. 20, National Democratic Front spokesman Santiago Salas said the Rodante Urtal Command of the New People’s Army was ordered to dismantle the private army and “anti-people” projects of the Dazas.