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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Laguna town declared insurgency-free

Laguna town declared insurgency-free

Published Jul 7, 2023 05:02 am
KALAYAAN, Laguna – This town, once known as a base of the New People's Army under former Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, has been declared insurgency free. Kalayaan is the first municipality in this province under a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status. A memorandum of understanding was signed in a program by an inter-agency body following the absence of recorded violent activities and recruitment of the CPP-National Democratic Front (NDF)-NPA for at least one year. Laguna police director Police Col. Harold Depositar, Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez, DILG-Laguna chief John M. Cerezo, Brig. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr., Army 202nd Infantry Battalion commander; Kalayaan Mayor Sandy Laganapan, barangay officials, and other stakeholders signed the memorandum of understanding. Laganapan is hopeful that the SIPS declaration would lead to the town’s progress. "We know that this declaration would usher in more investors and open up more job and economic opportunities in our municipality," he said. The program was highlighted by the signing of a commitment by local officials and representatives from government agencies that they do not welcome the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTG) and its sectoral front organizations and their activities in Kalayaan. Balaoro called on remaining members of the CPP-NPA to surrender and benefit from the government’s reintegration program. Capt. Warren Ching, civil-military officer of the Army 202nd Infantry Brigade, said this town once served as an access point and guerrilla base for communist insurgents. “Dito dati nahuhuli ang mga matataas na lider ng NPA. Daanan ang Kalayaan mula Northern Quezon papuntang Laguna or Southern Quezon, para siyang highway. Looban kasi siya, lalo na ang (barangay) San Antonio, na dating pinupuntahan ng mga NPA (High-ranking NPA leaders were apprehended here. This town is a way from northern Quezon to Laguna or southern Quezon, like a highway. It is isolated, particularly Barangay San Antonio, and the NPA always goes here),” Ching added. Despite the SIPS status, the Army said that they will continue monitoring and operating through their patrol base in the area. This province was declared under SIPS status on September 2019, the second in the country after Cavite.

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Laguna insurgency-free SIPS Kalayaan
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