Two outgoing mayors in Samar
province concluded that declaration of insurgency-free of status is not a
guarantee that an area is free from threats of New People’s Army (NPA).
Pinabacdao town Mayor Mario Quijano and Motiong town Mayor
Francisco Langi recalled that NPA were active in supporting some candidates and
harass voters in the past elections despite insurgency-free declarations.
“Many people in Samar
province failed to exercise their rights to vote because of NPA threats,”
recalled Quijano, who lost his re-election bid in the recent elections.
Langi, whose son lost in the mayoralty race, emphasized the
need for the Philippine Army to maintain their presence in declared rebel-free
areas.
The two officials said they never expected that threat from
the members of the NPA would prevail in the 2016 elections.
Capt. Ian Fabellon, spokeperson of the Philippine Army’s 8th
infantry division said that they could not be blamed since the town chief
executives are signatories in the declaration as well.
Both officials believed that this matter should be taken in
consideration with the formal peace talks between the incoming administration
of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and the national Democratic Front.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=897810
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