Army declares Sorsogon as ‘conflict-manageable’ area

From the Bicol Mail (Dec 10): Army declares Sorsogon as ‘conflict-manageable’ area

SORSOGON CITY — The number of combatants in the New People’s Army (NPA) in the province of Sorsogon has dwindled significantly in recent months, giving way to the classification and declaration of Sorsogon as “conflict-manageable and ready for further development” area.

 This was revealed by Lt. Col. Beerjenson Aquino, commanding officer of the 31st Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Sorsogon province, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) prepares for the formal ceremony for such declaration to be held on December 15.

 In an exclusive interview at the sidelines of a security forum here, Aquino said the actual number of

NPA regular cadres had been reduced by as much as eighty percent. “They are now down to just about 40 armed regulars.”

Aquino said Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee had already approved the declaration of the province as “conflict-manageable and ready for further development” area and that AFP Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri is expected to personally attend the ceremony.

 The army commander said several factors were considered in the classification and declaration of Sorsogon as conflict-manageable area. “But the most significant were the reduction in number of villages affected or influenced by the NPA, reduction in actual number of insurgents, and the reduction in crime volume,” the army commander stressed.

 He added that with the over-all reduction on security threats, they expect more investments and business activities that will usher in progress and development in the province.

 The local government units and the Philippine National Police will take bigger roles now while the AFP acts as support agency, he said. But he assured the community that the Army will maintain its forces intact to respond to any untoward incident.

 Aquino said their peace and development teams (PDTs) made a good job of clearing many villages in the province from NPA influences which he said have plagued the countryside.

 With the significant reduction in number, the NPA can no longer mount large-scale operations, the Army commander said, even as he clarified that harassments and other armed operations recently launched by the communist movement were carried out by some civilians who were influenced by the rebels.

 Aquino added that the arrests of two of its ranking officials by government forces in two separate operations in Sorsogon and Cavite provinces were indications that the NPA are now very disorganized and demoralized.

 Andres Hubilla alias Magno, Carlo and Bunso, former secretary of Komite Probinsyal (KOMPROB)- Sorsogon, code named EPSON, was arrested by joint elements of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines in Brgy. Hugo, Trece Martires City at around 9:00 a.m. last November 25.

 Hubilla is also a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CNN) regional party committee in Bicol Region, it was reported.

 A police report said Hubilla, together with a certain Louie Jayno, was on board a silver Toyota Innova with plate number ZNU 763 when accosted by authorities at around 9:05 a.m. of November 25.

 Hubilla was facing various criminal cases which included Criminal Case No. 2014-9058 for Murder and Criminal Case No. 2014-9059 for Attempted Murder before  RTC Branch 52 and Branch 53, both in Sorsogon City.

 Three days later, Felix Marcaida, Jr., — also known as Migz and Gene – were collared by joint operatives of the Philippine National Police-Bicol’s 5th Regional Public Safety Battalion, Regional Intelligence Unit 5, Sorsogon Provincial Intelligence Branch, Donsol Municipal Police Station and the Philippine Army’s 22nd Infantry Battalion, 9th Military Intelligence Battalion, 901st Infantry Brigade and the 903rd Infantry Brigade.

 Marcaida, married, was executive committee member and secretary of Larangan 3, Komite Probinsyal Sorsogon of the Bicol Regional Party Committee of the NPA.

 A police report said the suspect was cornered at his residence at about 8:00 a.m. on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Honesto A. Villamor of Regional Trial Court Branch 52, Sorsogon City for a case of murder docketed under Criminal Case No. 5667 with no bail recommended for his temporary liberty.

 Meanwhile, Senior Supt. Ronaldo Cabral, the police provincial director, said the declaration is a very welcome development which will immensely help the province in its efforts to bring progress and development in the barangays.

 The classification is two steps short of declaring the province as insurgency-free, he said.

 Cabral said LGUs will now assume a bigger and more active role in the pursuit and maintenance of peace and order by allocating more funds towards such purpose.

 The police director said the PNP regularly submits Local Anti-Criminality Action Plan (LACAP) and Integrated Area Community Public Safety Plan to LGUs which map out plans and programs toward attaining peace and security.

 He added that to maintain, or further improve, the security situation in the province, LGUs must focus more on programs and projects that the province needs.

 Sorsogon is the last among the four mainland Bicol provinces to be classified as “conflict-manageable” area and the second to the last among the six provinces.

 Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Albay, in that order, had all been declared and classified as “conflict-manageable areas” leaving Masbate as only the province that is classified as highly influenced by the rebel group.

http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=23794