PNP to handle anti-insurgency tasks in Pampanga

AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista. Photo from AFP Public Affairs Office

MANILA, Philippines-The Armed Forces of the Philippines has turned over the fight against insurgents to the Philippine National Police after the military declared the province as free from communist rebels, a statement said.

The memorandum of agreement between the two forces would allow the PNP to spearhead the fight against rebels from the New People’s Army that still linger in the province with the help from the AFP.

The MOA, which was signed Wednesday in Bacolor, Pampanga, was also a solid testament to the victory of the AFP in the 45-year fight against the NPA in the province.

AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel T. Bautista signed the MOA declaring the province as “peaceful and ready for further development.”

“We showed here in Pampanga one of our victories against the 45 years of insurgency in the country. We have had the insurgency problem for so long, and so many died and suffered, and many families were broken because of that,” Bautista said.

“Now is the time to end the culture of violence; it is time for us to unite and abandon the armed struggle and time to live in peace and prosperity.”

Pampanga was the last of the 22 provinces in the northern areas to be declared peaceful after continuous decline of NPA activity, the military said.

Joining Bautista were Lieutenant Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Commander of Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), Major Gen. Hernando Iriberri, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, Brigadier Gen. Henry Sabarre of the 703rd Infantry Brigade and Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda.

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