Another 3 towns in Eastern Visayas declared as insurgency-free

By DPAO, 8ID PA
July 19, 2015

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar – Municipalities of Rosario, Northern Samar, Sta. Fe, Leyte and Daram, Samar were declared as insurgency-free on July 13, 15 and 16, 2015 respectively. Municipality of Rosario held the ceremony at the town’s municipal hall, while the other two towns held the ceremonies at their respective municipal gymnasiums.

The declaration of Rosario, Northern Samar as insurgency-free was formalized by the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the AFP, represented by Brig. Gen. Herminigildo C. Aquino AFP, Commander, 803rd Infantry Brigade; PNP, represented by PSI Anthony T. Din, Chief of Police Rosario; and Rosario LGU, represented by Hon. Gerardo T. Miranda, Municipal Mayor of Rosario.

While the declaration of Sta. Fe, Leyte as insurgency-free was formalized by the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the AFP, represented by Col. Dino A. Dolina, Commander, 802nd Infantry Brigade; PNP, represented by PSupt Erwin Portillo, DPDO, Leyte PPO and Sta. Fe LGU, represented by Hon. Oscar J. Monteza, Mayor of Sta. Fe.

On the other hand, the declaration of Daram, Samar as insurgency-free was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the AFP, represented by Colonel Leoncio A. Cirunay Jr.; the PNP, represented by PSSupt Elmer R. Pelobello, OIC Samar Police Office and Daram LGU, represented by Hon. Lucia L. Astorga, Mayor of Daram.

The signings were witnessed by the towns’ municipal council members and their respective constituents.

The declarations of the three towns were by virtue of the Municipal Resolutions passed by their respective Municipal Councils.

Based on the Municipal Councils’ resolutions, the towns have satisfied the imperatives stipulated in the National Internal Security Plan (NISP) where the threat of CPP-NPA is already relegated to insignificant level.

An insurgency free town is a level up of towns declared as Peaceful and Ready for Further Development (PRFD) status.

The “Insurgency-Free” status of the three towns, mean they are free from NPA intimidation and extortion activities. Due to these, business activities in the said towns will experience uptrend and will eventually improve their economic and financial status where the people will be the ultimate benefactors.