Southern Leyte town declared rebel-free

From the Philippine News Agency (May 7, 2024): Southern Leyte town declared rebel-free (By Sarwell Meniano)

PEACE. Local officials release white doves during the declaration of Bontoc, Southern Leyte as rebel-free on May 6, 2024. The town has had no sightings and no activity of armed rebels for one year now. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

TACLOBAN CITY – The town of Bontoc in Southern Leyte has been declared free from threats of the New People’s Army (NPA) with no sightings and no activity of armed rebels in the area for a year.

Through a resolution of the municipal peace and order council and the Sangguniang Bayan, the town was declared on May 6 as Stable Internal Peace and Security Conditions, said Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Brigade.

“The declaration manifests the real peace enjoyed by the populace of Bontoc as a result of collaborative efforts of the local government units, government agencies, law enforcement agencies, various sectors, and the populace in maintaining peaceful and orderly communities,” Vestuir said in a statement on Tuesday.

Highlight of the declaration is the signing of a memorandum of understanding and pledge of commitment by different stakeholders, and the simultaneous release of white doves.

In his speech, Bontoc Mayor Noel Alinsub thanked all stakeholders who helped in attaining the conditions for the declaration of their town as having stable internal peace and security conditions.

“I urged all to work together to maintain peace and security in the municipality of Bontoc. The local government, together with the police and military and other government agencies and offices and various sectors of the society, will continue to work together to keep their town peaceful and safe,” the mayor said during the ceremony at the town’s gymnasium.

Under the Armed Forces of the Philippines' phases of normalization, a province is given the SIPS status if no violent terroristic activity has been conducted by the NPAs for at least one year.

Based on the military records, no atrocity has been recorded in Bontoc for more than a year now.

Bontoc is a 4th class town in Southern Leyte province with a population of 29,799 people.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1224213