7 Leyte cities, towns await rebel-free declaration

TACLOBAN CITY, April 8 (PNA) -- Five towns and two cities in Leyte province will be declared as areas completely free of insurgency before the year ends, an army official said.

Lt. Col. Roberto Sarmiento, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion said they are targeting to place Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Villaba, Isabel, Capoocan, Jaro, and Tanauan in the insurgency-free list within the year.

Although the town have been free from threats of rebels for years, the army needs city and town council resolution for the formal declaration.

“It’s already in the process. This just takes time because of the election period,” Sarmiento said.

Ormoc and Tacloban mayors committed to send the resolution to the military after the May 9 elections, according to the army official.

“The declaration of insurgency-free will ensure economic growth,” he added.

Latest to be declared as stable internal peace and security town through a joint declaration of the military and Philippine National Police is San Isidro town.

A platoon of the New People’s Army in Leyte used to influence the town until the military dismantled them in 2000.

In collaboration with the 19th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police, the local government of San Isidro was able to maintain and peace and security situation in the town.

San Isidro Mayor Susan Ang, 802nd Army Brigade commander Col. Francisco Mendoza, Jr. and Police Supt. Ramil Amodia of the Leyte Provincial Public Safety Company signed the declaration.

Other signatories are Vice-Mayor Isidro Balmoria, Sarmiento and Sr. Insp. Jimmy Boy Balasanos, the town’s chief of police.

Ang signed the declaration by virtue of Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 049-2015 which was adopted after 19th Infantry Battalion's periodic assessment on the peace and security situation in the said town last year. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR