ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal (PIA) – The province of Rizal, composed of 13 municipalities and one city, is close to reaching Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status after 12 municipalities demonstrated no violent terrorist activities for more than a year.
In an interview with 202nd Infantry “Unifier” Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Cerilo Balaoro Jr., during the 12th episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, he said Montalban and Antipolo City are expected to get their SIPS status before the year ends, which will lead to the entire province being declared an insurgency-free community.
Furthermore, Balaoro said that “[the] target is for all municipalities and cities here in Rizal and the whole Calabarzon to be declared as Stable Internal Peace and Security.”
He added, “We were able to dismantle the last remaining guerilla front here in the Southern Tagalog Region, specifically the KLG Narciso. At the same time, the brigade also facilitated the dismantling of the three remaining horizontal platoons in Batangas. The last guerilla front covered the areas of Rizal and Northern Quezon.”
To successfully end the local communist armed conflicts in the country, Balaoro encourages the public to continue cooperating with the army, law enforcement agencies, and their respective local government units to report suspicious situations in their places.
“Our fellow citizens can truly contribute in this matter, especially when it comes to providing information. They are essentially our ‘eyes and ears’ in the rural areas, and the information they provide is a significant responsibility of our fellow citizens as good citizens of the country,” said Balaoro.
He likewise urged the remaining members of communist groups to return to mainstream society, as the government is prepared to provide an amnesty program designed to facilitate the gradual integration of returning rebels into the folds of the law and ensure their personal safety and well-being. (PIA-4A)
