CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - Just after the declaration of the City of Ilagan as insurgency-free city on March 25, 2024, the municipality of Benito Soliven in this province immediately followed the next day, March 26.

Benito Soliven town was now sixth in a row of declared insurgency-free municipality in Isabela following the declaration of the towns of San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones and the City of Ilagan, having no recorded presence and activities of the Community Terrorist Groups (CTGs) since last year and in the 1st quarter of 2024.

Mayor Roberto Lungan was elated for the recent status of his town that was once a lair and under influence of the CTGs, saying there were fears among the residents before.

Lungan lauded the huge contribution of the the military, the police, barangay officials and his constituents for their sincere cooperation in making the town peaceful and orderly.

“Utang na loob namin sa inyo (uniformed personnel) ang pagkamit ng kapayapaan sa aming bayan. Makakamit na namin ang aming pangarap na tatanda sa payapang bayan,” Lungan said.

Meanwhile, Liga ng Mga Barangay President Bonifacio Viernes assured that all the barangay leaders are supporting the peace and development initiatives of the government in the town.

The declaration of the town as insurgency-free was led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Intelligence Coordinaitng Agency (NICA), Isabela Police Provincial Office (IPPO), 502nd Infantry Brigade, and 95th Infantry Battalion. (MGE/PIA Isabela)