ARMY SAYS: 5 barangays free of NPAs

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 19): ARMY SAYS: 5 barangays free of NPAs

Five hinterland barangays in four Negros Oriental towns were declared “insurgency-free and development-ready” by the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade.

Col. Christopher Estella, 302nd Infantry Brigade deputy commander, yesterday said the barangays of Siapo and Basak, in San Jose; Brgy. Silab in Amlan; Brgy. Enrique Villanueva in Sibulan and Brgy. Dobdob in Valencia, all in Negros Oriental, that used to be regular targets of the extortion and liquidation activities of the CPP-NPA, were declared as “insurgent free” by the Area Clearing Evaluation and Validation Board.

Estella said the active and untiring support of the local government units for the efforts of the 79th IB peace and development workers deployed in the five hinterland barangays brought a positive impact to the community, although some residents are apprehensive because of fear of retaliation from the NPA.

With peace paving the way to development, the people living in those communities will have a better chance to uplift their condition, he added.

The declaration of the five barangays as insurgency-free was deliberated upon by the ACEV board, with Estella as chairman, on Aug. 15 and 17, at Camp General Leon Kilat in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

“As we declare those barangays cleared from the NPA influence, we expect that development will flow into those areas,” Estella said. However, he added, those barangays will still be threatened by the NPA if the issues and concerns of the people are not addressed accordingly.

He attributed the enlightening the hearts and minds of the masses to the convergence of the government efforts and key role of LGUs.

Farm-to-market roads are among the common issues raised by residents to officials of the newly-cleared barangays as echoed by Dobdob barangay captain Guilberto Darias during the ACEV board deliberations.

Although this is not the core issue exploited by the NPA, it needs to be addressed to negate the recovery efforts of the rebel group, and prevent them from establishing a foothold anew in the barangay, Estella said.

Estella also said he is optimistic that Negros Oriental will be free from insurgency later this year, with a minimal number of rebels now operating.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/August/19/negor1.htm