ILAGAN CITY, Isabela (PIA) – The town of San Agustin in the southeastern part of Isabela province has been declared insurgency-free.
In the declaration issued by the town’s local legislative body, San Agustin is already in a state of stable internal peace and security based on the assessment of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC).
Mayor Cesar Mondala said the town was once a lair of the Communist Party of the Philippine-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA), but through the efforts of the government’s peace and security forces, the rebels’ activities have been neutralized.
“We are very thankful to the different government forces, through the RTF-ELCAC, for making San Agustin an insurgency-free town,” the mayor said.
He also lauded the various government programs and services brought nearer to the communities as they greatly impacted the lives of the people, which eventually resulted in the attainment of peace and order in the town.
Meanwhile, 502nd Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Eugene Mata urged the people in the town to continue their support to the law enforcers to sustain the peaceful status of the town.
He also encouraged the community folk to report to the authorities if there is an observed presence of the rebel groups in the town.
Mata stressed that citizens’ participation, especially in giving information to the authorities, is very vital to the attainment of the government’s thrust to end lawless violence in the communities. (OTB/MGE/PIA Isabela)
