THE military officially handed over the lead role in internal security operations (ISO) to Cebu’s Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) in a formal ceremony recently held at Barangay Nangka, Balamban, Cebu, an official announced Tuesday.
Witnessed by mayors, provincial officials, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) representatives, and other local executives, a joint resolution was signed by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, 8th Infantry Division Commander Major General Arthur Tabaquero, and Police Chief Superintendent Lani-o Nerez declaring the province as insurgency free.
To this effect, all of the 44 municipalities and eight component cities of Cebu are now free of New People Army’s (NPA) influence.
The resolution stated that “the communist rebels ceased to function effectively as an organized insurgent movement, its threat to stability, peace and order, and development in Cebu is significantly reduced and relegated to inconsequential; its actual and potential support systems are cut; and its capabilities substantially degraded making them incapable of resurging and waging isolated armed incidents.”
“More and more provinces are attaining the status of being free of insurgents such as Cebu. Such development is a result of the dynamic teamwork between government agencies, non-government organizations, various sectors, and the people. The objective of this collaboration was to encourage rebels to lay down their arms and start their lives anew, with the help of government programs,” said Francisco Cruz, commander of Civil Relations Service.
Last February 19, 2010, the province of Aurora had the same turnover of ISO activity and resolution declaring all of its barangays and municipalities free of insurgents’ influence. Bohol, Marinduque, La Union were also among the precedent provinces that have been declared free of NPA.
“But the more significant aspect of these successes is that these were achieved through peaceful means and without the necessity of bloodshed. Peace is the best option the government and the AFP have, and that is what we have chosen to pursue. We take pride in bringing the NPAs back to the folds of the law, and giving them the opportunity to be productive in their communities. As soldiers of all Filipinos, we recognize that their welfare is also our concern,” added Cruz.
Governor Garcia said the cleared Cebu is the result of labor and of her declaration to fight the CPP/NPA/NDF five years ago. She formed the Cebu Provincial Anti-Insurgency Task Force on June 26, 2006.
“I offered better lives to those who decided to return to the civilized society,” she said, referring to the province’s financial assistance worth P30,000 provided to each of the 74 NPAs who surrendered within the last five years.
Of these 74 rebels, 21 NPA surrenderees have received financial assistance from the Social Integration Program while assistance for the rest is being processed.
Raymundo Bañares, Commanding Officer, 78th Infantry Battalion, said the military will continue to serve in the province focusing on community development such as medical and dental missions, infrastructure, and other community development projects instead of combat operations. (VR/Sunnex)