In the fight against communist insurgency
CATBALOGAN CITY– The military continues to declare local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas as having a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) or being “insurgency-free,” though they are cautious in awarding this status.
This was stated by MGen Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division during the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ event held at Camp Vicente Lukban, based this city, on Tuesday, August 13.
“Of course, we want all LGUs to be declared with SIPSC status, but we must be careful in awarding it. We should follow all the parameters in making these declarations,” said MGen Ligayo.
Out of the 136 towns, seven cities, and six provinces in the region, at least 35 municipalities have already been awarded SIPSC status, mostly in Eastern Samar.
These municipalities include Giporlos, Oras, Maydolong, Guiuan, Balangkayan, Mercedes, San Julian, Sulat, Taft, San Policarpo, Lawaan, Llorente, Salcedo, and Quinapondan.
Other LGUs declared insurgency-free are Sta. Margarita, Sto. Niño, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Sebastian, Almagro, and Talalora in Samar province; Allen, San Jose, Rosario, Capul, Biri, and San Vicente in Northern Samar; Palompon, Matag-ob, Isabel, Merida, Hilongos, and Bato in Leyte province; and Bontoc and Macrohon in Southern Leyte.
MGen Ligayo added that more LGUs would be declared insurgency-free in the coming months.
To be awarded SIPSC status, an LGU must be free from the presence, influence, and activity of the New People’s Army for at least a year.
The declaration is supported by a resolution from the respective Sangguniang Bayan or Panlalawigan, signed and approved by the mayor or governor who heads the local task force to end local armed conflict.
Having been awarded SIPSC status, these towns are now positioned to attract investments and development projects, including boosting their tourism potential, which is expected to stimulate the local economy and create jobs.
While most of the awarded LGUs are municipalities, 802nd Brigade Commander BGen Noel Vestuir revealed that Biliran province would soon receive the same recognition.
Vestuir said they are waiting for resolutions from the province’s eight towns, attesting that their respective areas are peaceful and free from insurgency influence. He added that they aim to award Biliran with SIPSC status by September or before the year ends.
He emphasized that LGUs must continue working to maintain peaceful communities after receiving SIPSC status by addressing social issues and providing solutions to local problems.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Leads
So frustrating is the snail-paced investigation being conducted by law enforcement agencies that until this day there still are no leads as to the location of suspended mayor Alice Guo. The investigating committee had been digging on multifarious issues involving many personalities that appear to have links to the suspended mayor. With the presence of many resource persons invited to shed light on the whereabouts of Alice Guo. The police informed the investigating committee that their operatives had sightings of the suspended mayor but no specific location had been identified.
The report prompted the investigating committee to warn the police resource persons that their budget might suffer a backlash if their operatives are that inefficient despite the huge intelligence funds they enjoy. Truly, the arrest of the suspended mayor had been a priority concern of the government considering its negative impact on the nation. Already, the senate had issued an order citing the suspended mayor in contempt. This led to the issuance of an arrest order that had not been implemented until now as they law enforcers are still surveilling the whereabouts of the suspended mayor.
The probability of the suspended mayor having gone out of the country had already been raised by lawmakers and the public. Indeed, it is not farfetched that the suspended mayor may have slipped through the ports of the country. There too is the possibility that could escape directly without passing through the ports. With all her resources to fled outside the country, our law enforcers might just be surprised that the suspended mayor is already hiding in foreign shores.
The huge resources that the suspended mayor had amassed through unexplainable means could be so powerful a tool to blind government authorities. The inutile stance of law enforcement agencies could be taken as an indication that they could have been made to look the other way while shenanigans under the suspended mayor operate their illegal activities.
Late findings following raids conducted by other law enforcement agencies had unearthed many more information that includes human trafficking and tortures being reportedly conducted in the buildings and underground tunnels. Further investigations led to the discovery of foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, who are holed in the buildings where online gambling are operated. There too are women workers who were made to engage in sex trade and pornography.
Over the illegal activities that had caught the attention of the government, the law enforcers are still in the process of locating and arresting the suspended mayor. Any report as to the location of the suspended mayor could put government into an embarrassing situation. It is lamentable that despite the resources and manpower, they still are looking for leads.
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