7 Leyte towns declared insurgency-free

Leyte map. INQUIRER.net FILES

PALO, Leyte — All seven municipalities in Leyte’s first congressional district have been officially declared insurgency-free by the Philippine Army, following the passage of individual resolutions from each town affirming the status.

The declaration, held on June 20, at the Palo town gymnasium, includes the municipalities of Palo, Babatngon, Tanauan, San Miguel, Tolosa, Santa Fe, and Alangalang—all of which are now considered to be under Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPC) status.

READ: AFP ‘on track’ in defeating insurgency threat

The first district, which also includes Tacloban City, falls under the congressional jurisdiction of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the declaration sends a strong message of rejection to the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and its supporters.

“While there is no longer an active presence of the communist group in Leyte’s first district, this declaration is symbolic. It sends a strong signal that the people no longer want them here,” he said in an interview.

According to Vestuir, the district has remained free of NPA activity in recent years, with the exception of Sta. Fe, where there had been reports of so-called “white areas”—zones of civilian sympathizers and potential recruitment through front organizations.

He added that this is the first time an entire district in the region has been collectively declared insurgency-free.

A similar declaration is also being prepared for Tacloban City.

Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, who also serves as the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Leyte chapter, emphasized that the declaration reflects a collective stand of local leaders and their constituents.

“This is a significant milestone because it speaks about peace, security, and the pursuit of a better life for our communities. We are committed to sustaining this achievement and working toward lasting peace,” she said.

Petilla also expressed optimism that the entire province of Leyte will soon be declared free from insurgency.

To date, 61 municipalities within the 802nd Infantry Brigade’s area of responsibility have already achieved insurgency-free status.

This status is granted to local governments that meet specific conditions, including the absence of NPA-initiated violence for at least one year; the clearing of active NPA mass supporters; and the establishment of stable peace and order.

The declaration aligns with the military’s campaign under the government’s whole-of-nation approach to ending local communist armed conflict. /jpv