Another Laguna town officially declared insurgency-free

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 14, 2024): Another Laguna town officially declared insurgency-free (By Zen Trinidad)

PEACE. Pangil town in Laguna is declared insurgency-free and received the Stable Internal Peace and Security seal. It received the SIPS status following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the municipal government on Thursday (June 13, 2024). (Photo courtesy of 202 Unifier Brigade, PA)

CALAMBA CITY – Laguna province’s Pangil town has been officially declared insurgency-free, finally earning it the coveted Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status.

Brig. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, said in a message to reporters on Friday that Pangil is the sixth local government unit (LGU) in the province to attain SIPS status.

Balaoro commended Pangil's leadership and the active involvement of its community in various peace-building endeavors.

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the youth from recruitment by communist terrorist group members, urging parents and guardians to play a proactive role in ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for their children.

“The declaration of Pangil as an insurgency-free town represents a significant stride towards enduring peace in the region, underscoring the efficacy of the integrated approach to security and development, which authorities aim to replicate in other areas,” Balaoro remarked.

Expressing gratitude to all stakeholders, Mayor Gerald Aritao celebrated the SIPS status declaration as a testament to the collective unity, resilience and commitment of Pangil residents towards fostering a secure and harmonious environment.

Balaoro disclosed that other cities and municipalities in Laguna have scheduled their SIPS declarations before the end of the third quarter, with the aim of positioning Laguna as the first SIPS province by the close of the year.

A jurisdiction can only be awarded the SIPS seal by the Armed Forces of the Philippines if no violent terrorist activities have been recorded within its boundaries for at least one year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1226992