Insurgency in Negros Oriental weakens, govt says
MANILA, Philippines - Military and local officials of Negros Oriental are claiming victory against communist rebels as they declared the province as “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready.â€
Maj. Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd division, said the local government and security officials issued last Wednesday a joint declaration stating that insurgency in the province has weakened.
“The issuance of a joint declaration is a manifestation that the level of insurgency in the province has dwindled in the past years due to the continuous decrease of their manpower, firearms, affected barangays and activities,†Tiongson said.
“The CPP-NPA-NDFP (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front of the Philippines) politico-military organizations have been reduced to a minimal level that it can no longer pose a serious threat to peace and order in the province,†he added.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degmo, 3rd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, and Police Regional Office 7 director Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, signed the declaration.
Tiongson said two provinces under their jurisdiction have been declared “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready†namely Antique and Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, three provinces - Siquijor, Guimaras, and Aklan - have been declared insurgency-free.
“The joint declaration of Negros Oriental as manageable conflict-affected and development-ready province means that, with the peaceful community and environment in the province, it is now ready for a faster development,†Baladad said.
“We will not put our guards down. We will continue our efforts and work even more together with the local government units, other government agencies, the civil society organizations, and the local communities in making Negros Oriental more peaceful,†he added.
Degamo, for his part, said the declaration would provide the province more investment opportunities. – Alexis Romero with a report from Ronald Mendoza
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