The Armed Forces of the Philippines
has declared the provinces of Guimaras and Aklan in Western Visayas, Cebu and
Siquijor in Central Visayas , which are all
under the jurisdiction of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, as insurgency-free.
But with barely nine months to go before President Benigno
Aquino III steps down in June next year, the 3ID is now running against time to
declare the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental, Iloilo, Capiz and
Antique as insurgency-free.
Maj. Enrique Rafael, deputy chief of the 3ID Governance and
Strategy Management Office, who briefed media participants Saturday on the
Division Commander's Scorecard, said their mission is to sustain the gains of
provinces declared as peaceful and ready for further development and to clear
all New People's Army-affected areas in Negros and Cebu not later than June
next year.
The military estimates that the strength of the NPA in
Negros has reduced to about 147 as of this time, compared to more than 200 in
previous years, with the same numbers also in Panay .
Although they fell short of their target to reduce the NPA
strength and firepower in the third quarter of 2015, the 3ID maintained that
they remain on track in their objective to declare Negros and Panay
insurgency-free by next year.
The 3ID Performance Scorecard also indicated that it reduced the NPA firepower by 19 percent in 2013, which is equivalent to 61 firearms, and further lessened the number of rebel remnants by 10 percent, with 35 of them having surrendered to the government.
It also targets to declare three more provinces in Negros
and Panay as insurgency-free by the end of
2015.
Maj. Rey Tiongson, 3ID spokesman, said that while the
Philippine Army focuses more on the armed threats, the solution to the problem
of insurgency is more political and economic, with social dimensions – that
have to be addressed by all, not just one sector of society.
By the middle of 2016, the 3ID aims to normalize the
security environment of Negros and Panay ,
where local government units are taking the lead in advancing sustainable
development.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/October/12/topstory8.htm
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