Insurgency in Negros Oriental weakens – AFP

MANILA, Philippines - Military and local officials in Negros Oriental are claiming victory against communist rebels as they declared the province as “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready.”

Maj. Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said local government and security officials issued last Wednesday a joint declaration 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-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) politico-military organizations have been reduced to a minimal level that (they) can no longer pose a serious threat to peace and order in the province,” he added.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, 3rd ID chief Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, and Region 7 police director Chief Superintendent Danilo Constantino signed the declaration.

Tiongson said five provinces under the 3rd ID’s jurisdiction have been declared “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready,” namely Siquijor, Guimaras, Aklan, Antique and Negros Oriental.

Three other provinces – Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Capiz – have yet to be declared as such.

“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 with more investment opportunities.