Army aims for insurgency-free Negros Island Region by mid-2016

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 1): Army aims for insurgency-free Negros Island Region by mid-2016

The Philippine Army is aiming to make the Negros Island Region (NIR) insurgency-free by 2016.

MGen. Rey Leonard Guerrero, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said by middle of next year, they hope to free the newly-formed region from any armed struggle.

Guerrero, who was a guest of honor at the 39th founding anniversary rites of the 303rd Infantry Brigade at the Camp Major Nelson Gerona in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Monday, said they aim for the island to be declared “insurgency-free” by the middle of next year, after both Negros provinces were declared “peaceful and ready for further development.”

“Such goal is doable since there are only a few remaining armed elements in the Negros Island both in Occidental and Oriental,” Guerrero said.

He noted that at present, there are almost 4,000 rebels nationwide. Only about 200 of them are in Negros.

Guerrero, however, admitted that the military may have difficulties in accomplishing the goal.

“As they say, the fewer they are, the harder for us to find them since they are splitting into smaller groups,” he said.

Still, the official remains optimistic on the idea of making the island insurgency-free. According to him, this can be achieved on time with the help of the communities and local government officials of both provinces.

Guerrero again called on the New People’s Army rebels to abandon their armed struggle and return to the folds of the law.

"This is an opportunity for them to unite with their families and be a part of the mainstream society. We hope they will realize the futility of the armed struggle. We hope they will look at it as a peaceful solution to the conflict by just embracing the programs and reforms offered by the government,” the Army’s 3rd ID chief said.

Moreover, Guerrero said the effort in pushing for the development of the countryside is now very aggressive due to the support of stakeholders especially the local government units and their respective officials.

He also added such developments are expected to initiate reforms address in order to address major issues such as poverty and social injustice.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=799086