Antipolo City has been declared as an insurgency-free community, the local government announced.
To affirm the local government’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful city, City Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares, III and Vice Mayor Josefina Gatlabayan led local officials in signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the declaration of the Stable Internal Peace and Security in the city, which was held at the city hall Friday morning, Sept. 20.
Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares (in light blue shirt) flashes a peace sign together with Vice Mayor Josefina Gatlabayan (third from left) and police and military officials during the signing ceremony that affirms an insurgency-free city (photo from Rizal PPO's Facebook page)
Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) director Col. Felipe B. Maraggun and City Police Station chief Lieutenant Col. Ryan Manongdo signed the MOU representing the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the ceremony.
Representing the military were Lt. Col. Mark Antony Ruby, the commander of 80th Infantry Brigade; and Col. Ronald Jess Alcudia, the deputy brigade commander of 202ND Brigade of the 2ND Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
Maraggun, in a statement following the signing, said the participants in the ceremony signifies their dedication in strengthening the peace and security in communities in the entire city.
Mayor Ynares personally thanked Maraggun and the military officials for the insurgency-free declaration.