2 more Quezon towns declared insurgency-free

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Nine towns in Quezon province are now free of communist rebels after two were recently added to the list.

Nakar and Infanta were declared insurgency-free on Tuesday after no incident of harassment and terrorist attacks were reported in the past several years, Col. Ledon Monte, Quezon police director, said.

The police, military, concerned local government executives and officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government signed a memorandum of understanding declaring stable internal peace and security in the two towns.

Monte also cited the surrender of New People’s Army rebels who benefited from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP.

Macalelon, Gumaca, Unisan, Perez, Quezon, Alabat and San Narciso had earlier been declared free of communist rebels.