Army official says Sagada town no longer seen as a "peace zone"

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep  20): Army official says  Sagada town  no longer seen as  a "peace zone"

With the recent activities that occurred in the  mountain resort town  of Sagada  involving New People’s Army and the government forces,  the town is no longer seen as a peace zone.

Maj. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Northern Luzon Command head, said “Sagada cannot be treated anymore as a peace zone”  following the recent events in the area.
 
Sagada which is home to the famous Sumaguing Cave and hanging coffins being flocked by local and foreign tourists, was declared as a peace zone in 1989 and is supposed to be off limits to armed members.

But on August 29, 2013, two police officers were hurt in an encounter between forces of the Police Regional Office Cordillera and the NPA.

According to Police Regional Office Cordillera Regional Director, Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong,  operatives of the Deep Reconnaissance Teams of Abra and Benguet Provincial Police Offices encountered undetermined number of armed NPA guerillas in Sitio Data, Barangay Aguid in Sagada. It was then followed by air strikes and ground attacks which led to the capture of the NPA camp in the area.

The NPA group in Sagada was allegedly behind the ambush in Tadian, Mountain Province last  June 28 where they attacked 95 police officers who were on training, killing one of them as they  were having their morning jogging.

Catapang, who was the guest of honor and speaker of the Philippine Military Academy Class 2017 Recognition Rites at the Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City  on September 14, said, “It (Sagada) is a place where they train the new NPA’s or their new recruits and it is a place where they stage their ambush and where they conduct their atrocities against the troops.”

He said he had scheduled talks with Mountain  Province Governor  Leonard Mayaen about the peace zone status of Sagada town.

Catapang issued orders to track down and arrest rebels operating in Northern Luzon, believing the military could clear these provinces of rebel presence before the year ends.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=41379651624