8 villages in Aurora, Nueva Ecija declared insurgency-free

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 28, 2021): 8 villages in Aurora, Nueva Ecija declared insurgency-free (By Jason De Asis)

INSURGENCY-FREE. A total of eight villages in the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija have been declared cleared of insurgency. This was disclosed during a meeting conducted Wednesday (Jan. 28, 2021) by the Area Clearing Evaluation Team composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and local government units of the two provinces. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 91st IB)

A total of eight villages in this province and nearby Nueva Ecija have been declared cleared of insurgency.

This was disclosed during a meeting conducted on Wednesday by the Area Clearing Evaluation Team (ACET) composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and local government units of Aurora and Nueva Ecija.

Col. Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte, Deputy Brigade Commander of the Army’s 703rd Brigade, said the villages of Diteki, Dikapinisan, Ditumabo, L. Pimentel, and Dimanay in San Luis town, this province; Sawmill and Calabasa in Gabaldon town and San Fernando in Laur town, both in Nueva Ecija, have passed the deliberation and evaluation conducted by the ACET.

Pasamonte, who is also the ACET chairman, said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army (CPP-NPA) “is losing every square inch of position and influence in their hinterland strongholds where they seek refuge“.

The ACET meeting was also attended by 91st Infantry Battalion (IB) officers led by Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, Aurora Police Provincial Office led by Police Col. Julio S. Lizardo, Major Erwin Ferry of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, Gabaldon Mayor Jobby P. Emata, the local government unit (LGU) of San Luis represented by Ariel Albertein de Jesus, and barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials.

Rubio said villagers in the cleared barangays have considered the presence of the 91st IB helpful in bringing the services of the government, including security, peace and stability, to their areas.

Mayor Emata, for his part, thanked the men in uniform for their unwavering support and intensified efforts that led to the successful conduct of Community Support Program (CSP) in their respective communities.

During the event, other issues were also raised by barangay officials such as road construction, flood control project, and medical, educational, employment concerns, among others.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1128798