Army declares Ormoc City as insurgency-free

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, April 13 (PNA) –- The Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP) and city government on Monday have declared Ormoc to be a Stable Internal Peace and Security Area upon the recommendation of the joint intelligence coordinating council.

The city passed the criteria for the official declaration under the revised joint implementing rules and regulations to Executive Order (EO) No. 546 in relation to EO No. 110 prescribe the parameters and procedures in declaring a Stable Internal Peace and Security.

These parameters include the Communist Terrorist Movement (CTM) ceased to function as an organized insurgent movement; the CTM threat to stability, peace and order, and development is significantly reduced and relegated to inconsequential level; the actual and potential CTM support systems are cut.

Other criteria are the CTM’s capabilities have been substantially degraded, making it incapable of resurging as an insurgent group capable of waging isolated armed incidents; and the CTM’s effort to infiltrate unaffected areas and sectoral organizations has been prevented.

According to Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Francisco Mendoza, Jr., the highest structure of the CTM in Leyte in the early 2000s was the Northern Leyte Front headed by Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee secretary Bibiano Rentellosa alias “Elmo” and “Tammy.”

The main force operated in the northeast part of the province particularly in Jaro, Carigara and Capoocan towns, while the other forces operated in the northwest area specifically in the hinterlands of Ormoc, Kananga, Matag-ob, Villaba, Calubian, Tabango, San Isidro and Leyte towns.

As a result of the successful Internal Peace and Security Operations of the Army, the Northern Leyte Front lost major guerilla bases particularly in the 3rd and 4th congressional districts.

“Now that the top-ranking officials of EVRPC have been neutralized, some of the members decided to abandon the armed struggle while the others lay low, resulting in the significant decrease of its membership and supporters,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said they have long regarded Ormoc as a Stable Internal Peace and Security Area, but the declaration should be done jointly with the PNP.

“Peace has already been stable (here) ever since but we cannot do it on our own. It should be a joint agreement. It has a process to go through which took some time to complete,” he added.

“This is a major victory on our part,” Mendoza went on saying. “With this declaration, we are saying that armed elements of our enemy are already reduced to an insignificant level that they could no longer do some terroristic activities and threaten the peace and order of the city.

“They may still be around because this armed group is just roaming around the hinterland villages not just in Ormoc City but other towns, but they’re just passing through. They cannot stay for long because the people are already supporting our side and we have troops that can immediately respond to reports of our civilian stakeholders in the area.”

Mayor Edward Codilla welcomed the declaration, saying it is to Ormoc’s advantage as it signals the city’s readiness for growth and development. More investors will also be attracted to come, knowing that their investment here will be safe and secure here, he continued. (PNA)

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