CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Visayas Command (VisCom) reported that more local government units (LGUs) in the Visayas are now under the ‘Stable Internal Peace and Security’ (SIPS) status.
This refers to the peaceful and stable security situation in these areas after the dismantling of several guerilla fronts in the region.
Serving as one of the guests during the 12th episode of the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ forum on Aug. 13, assistant chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations of the VisCom, Col. Joel Benedict Batara, attributed the increase in the number of LGUS to the strengthened internal security operations of their unit against the remaining active members of the communist terrorist group (CTG).
Seven provinces in the Visayas covering 15 cities and towns were already declared to be under SIPS status.
“With our combat operations, there is a certain number wherein these armed groups are neutralized. Sa Panay nalang merong weakened guerilla fronts. Big factor sa paghina ng CTG ay nagsawa at nagising na ang mga tao sa mga kasinungalingan na ginagawa ng NPA,” said Batara.
(It’s only in Panay where we have weakened guerilla fronts. One big factor that led to this is that the people are now fed up with the lies propagated by the NPA.)
“These affected areas na nilulugaran ng (occupied by the) NPA already have the support of the people. The internal defense system is already monitored, and people are already cooperating with the government to neutralize these NPA remnants,” he added.
According to VisCom, 19 guerilla fronts have already been dismantled, with only one weakened guerilla front remaining in Panay Island, while 1,401 members of the NPA have also surrendered to the government.
A total of 192 firearms were also confiscated and recovered from the CTG and rebel group members in different affected areas of the Visayas.
“We can account for all these accomplishments because of our whole-of-nation approach. Ang ginagawa ng gobyerno natin (What our government is doing), we have to weigh in kung anong magiging (on what will be the) impact ng mga security activities natin, and we saw the result where more areas were already declared in peaceful and stable condition,” Batara added.
Meanwhile, VisCom reported that all barangays in Central Visayas have already been cleared from the presence of the CTG.
“Wala nang (There are no more) CTG-affected areas and barangays in Central Visayas. We have cleared 349 barangays in the Central Visayas region from CTG presence. Every time may nakikita silang kahina hinala, ni rereport agad na mga tao sa barangay,” said Lt. Col. Israel Galorio, chief of Public Information Office of VisCom.
(Every time the people in the barangays detect suspicious activities, they immediately these to the authorities.)
AFP-Viscom was the featured agency during the 12th episode of the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ program, a platform initiated by the Presidential Communication Office through the Philippine Information Agency.
The activity serves as a platform to amplify public understanding and engagement with the national government’s programs and projects through the different implementing government agencies.
Watch the full episode here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/HNzuArraHqBiyLSB/. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
