16 Leyte towns declared as rebel-free

TACLOBAN CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- At least 16 towns in the northern part of Leyte province under the watch of the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) has been declared as insurgency-free.

Declared as Stable Internal Peace and Security areas are the towns of Matag-ob, Merida, Palompon, Tabango, Barugo, Babatngon, San Miguel, Leyte, Pastrana, Tolosa, Dagami, Calubian, Sta. Fe, Alangalang and Tunga.

"The towns were declared insurgency-free or Stable Internal Peace and Security because the actual threat of the Communist Terrorist Movement (CTM) is already downgraded and is no longer significant to influence the residents,” said Albano.

The latest town that joined the list is the town of Kananga, a former stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the province, said Lt. Bryan Albano, 19th IB civil military operation officer.

Kananga is a first class town in Leyte with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture.

The town is also the home of Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant, one of the largest geothermal power plant in the world and Asia’s second largest.

Kananga Mayor Elmer Codilla, 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Francisco Mendoza Jr., Leyte provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Franco Simborio, represented by Superintendent Erwin Portillo signed the joint declaration on Feb. 29.

The joint declaration was pursued upon the recommendation of the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion and the subsequent legislation of by the Kananga’s town council.

Codilla said he considers it as an achievement not only by the town government, but also by the village officials and other local stakeholders.

He also cited the local government’s capability to address the services needed by the constituents as a key factor in the attainment of the town’s present state. (PNA)
JBP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR