E. Samar city, 12 towns declared insurgency-free

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 12 towns, including the historic Balangiga, and a city in Eastern Samar were declared insurgency-free, the Army said yesterday.

The towns of Quinapondan, Taft, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Hernani, San Julian, San Policarpo and Sulat along with Salcedo, Guiuan, Mercedes and Borongan City and Balangiga were declared “manageable conflict-affected and ready for development.”

The military declares an area “insurgency-free” if the strength of rebels within its jurisdiction is too small to influence its residents and their activities. The lead role of maintaining peace and order is then transferred from the military to local officials. 

Capt. Gene Orense, spokesman for the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the insurgency-free areas are now ready for development projects and investments. 

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared the provinces of Ifugao, Aklan, Apayao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Biliran, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, Guimaras, Siquijor and Northern and Southern Leyte as insurgence-free.

The military said the number of revolutionary fighters is down to 4,000 from a peak of 24,000 in the mid-1980s.

Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman, cited the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan for the success of their anti- insurgency campaign.

The IPSP Bayanihan focuses on non-combat operations in enticing rebels to surrender.