BACOLOR, Pampanga, Philippines – Military and local officials have declared the province as insurgency-free, effectively claiming victory against communist rebels in the entire northern and central Luzon.
A memorandum of agreement between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the provincial government was signed yesterday indicating that Pampanga is now “peaceful and ready for further development.â€
The agreement also transferred the lead role of maintaining internal security to the local executives from the military.
Among the officials who witnessed the signing were Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Catapang, and 7th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Hernando Iriberri.
Bautista said Pampanga, the birthplace of insurgency in the Philippines, is the 43rd province to be declared insurgency-free. There are 32 provinces that are still grappling with the communist rebellion based on latest military data. – Alexis Romero, Ric Sapnu