Two Eastern Samar towns declared as insurgency free

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 30): Two Eastern Samar towns declared as insurgency free

San Policarpo and Sulat towns in Eastern Samar are the latest towns of the province declared as insurgency free, a military official here said. Captain Gene Orense, civil military chief of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, based in Catbalogan City said that the two towns are the latest addition to the towns of Taft, Balangkayan, Maydolong, Mercedes, Guiuan, San Julian, Salcedo, Mercedes, Hernani and Borongan City to be declared as insurgency free. The civil military chief clarified though that the declaration do not really mean the absolute absence of members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the area. He said further that presence of the NPA is still felt but not enough to create any major trouble.
San Policarpo town mayor Conrado Nicart III and Col. Romeo Labador, commanding officer of the 801st Infantry Brigade both signed the declaration last November 19 while Sulat town mayor Virginia Zacate signed for her town last October this year. The mayors of both towns have expressed hope that with the declaration, economic development would follow as businessmen would be attracted to invest business in their towns. The presence of the rebel group in the towns of Eastern Samar has been a factor why the province has been considered as one of the poorest provinces in the country.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1151354181349