AFP, PNP reaffirm La Union as insurgency-free province

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 27): AFP, PNP reaffirm La Union as insurgency-free province

High-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the police in Northern Luzon have reaffirmed the status of La Union as insurgency-free province during the recent second quarter meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Diego Silang at the provincial capitol here.

Maj. Gen. Angelito M. De Leon, commander of the army’s 7th Infantry Division, said that the reaffirmation of the status of La Union as insurgency-free was due to unprecedented economic growth and development of the province and the continued trust of stakeholders to the stability of the province’s peace and order.

De Leon, however, clarified that said restatement does not mean that the AFP and other law enforcement agencies will relinquish the security support to the province.

“The initiative is our mode of sustaining our all-out security support to maintain the peace and order situation in the province of La Union,” said De Leon, who represented the AFP during the signing ceremony.

He said that the continued support of the AFP to the provinces even after its declaration as insurgency - free shows its dedication to serving the people beyond the threat.

“Although the status of insurgency situation in the Ilocos region is manageable, we are constantly vigilant against the possible occurrence of terror threat from the leftist groups operating in our area of responsibility,” added De Leon.

Aside from De Leon, other signatories of the reaffirmation document were La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, Police Regional Office 1 director Chief Supt. Charlo Collado, Brig. Gen. Milfredo M. Melegrito, who represented Lt. Gen. Romeo T. Tanalgo, the commander of the AFP’s Northern Luzon command. Witnessing the event were the members of the RPOC Region 1.

For his part, Gov. Ortega expressed elation to the status of La Union as rebel-free and said “this is a remarkable indicator for La Union while vying for the award as country’s most peaceful province this year.”

“In behalf of the provincial government of La Union, I rest assured our fullest support to this peace and order initiative,” Ortega said.

Meanwhile, Col. Henry A. Robinson Jr., commander of the army’s 702nd Brigade, said “it is in this particular event where the government must remember to make use of its people so that little by little they will be able to contribute, not only to economic growth but by their vigilance to prevent insurgents gain their power.”

Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio C Osias IV, commander of the army’s 81st Infantry Battalion, also said “we, the Spartan Troopers will continue to support and secure the province of La Union by mobilizing our resources to prevent the resurgence of the protracted war of the communist terrorists.”

On September 4, 2009, La Union was also declared as insurgency-free province through a Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the AFP, PNP, and the province of La Union, with provisions of partnership for strengthening the internal security of the province.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/381500548229/afp-pnp-reaffirm-la-union-as-insurgency-free-province