La Union scores high on peace, order

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 15): La Union scores high on peace, order

The La Union provincial government has prided itself on sustained peace, order and security which translated to residents' collective welfare.

For nine years under Governor Manuel Ortega’s administration, the provincial government focused on attaining its common vision of “La Union as a Haven of Peace, Unity and Prosperity for a Much Improved Quality of Life.”

Based on reports, the province has been insurgency-free for years due to its partnership with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces in securing the province's peace and order.

Previous accomplishments by the La Union Police Provincial Office include rebel surrenderees or rebel officers who returned to the folds of the law and choosing the province as the place for surrender.

These include the following significant  surrenders:
 
On February 14, 2016 Manuel Arpid or Ka Manuel, a political affairs officer of the New People’s Army surrendered to the La Union Police Provincial Office under the leadership of Police Director Supt. Angelito Dumangeng;
 
Ka Omar, 33, a suspected NPA member surrendered in April 2015 which came following a series of negotiations conducted by police and military agents and local officials.

Omar joined the communist movement in 1997 and was appointed assistant team leader of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla operating in the Cordilleras, Dumangeng informed.

Other rebel officers who returned to the folds of the law as far back as 2012 have been provided benefits under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (Clip) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The integration program affords former rebels the chance to return to the social mainstream and uplifts their socio-economic conditions to enable them to become active partners in local development.

It seeks to contribute towards the achievement of the goal of permanent peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups.

The program covers validation and authentication, immediate assistance, psychological intervention, resettlement and integration.

Meanwhile, the province’s crime solution efficiency rate, was significantly higher (91 percent) compared with Region I’s average of 65 percent.

The sustained priority given to peace, order and security through the functional (seven) pillars of the criminal justice system contributed to this level of achievement.

On November 24, 2015, the province was cited by the Dangerous Drugs Board as a nominee in the 2015 Nationwide search for the Best Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC).

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/311457487806/la-union-scores-high-on-peace-order