Cebu, Philippines (7 March) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines in Central Visayas has declared that Cebu and Bohol provinces are now insurgency-free!
The AFP, PNP and various government agencies jointly signed the declaration on March 1 during the hand over of the Internal Security operations (ISO) from the military to the Regional Peace & Order council (RPOC-7) in Central Visayas headed by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
In her opening message during the regular meeting of the council on March 4, Cebu governor Gwen Garcia acknowledged the inter-agency efforts of the members of the RPOC-7 that help in the region's quest for lasting peace and development.
Garcia said, "Our unequivocal declaration of an all-out-war against the insurgency problem; total all-out-war against illegal gambling, illegal drugs and criminality contributed largely to the overall peace and order situation in the region today."
"Our comprehensive efforts to see to it that basic services reach the remotest communities through the social integration program of former rebels and surrenderees created the necessary government impact among the people," the governor added.
She proudly declared that we have achieved the "insurgency-free" status without a single bullet fired, without a single blood shed.
However, she added that "peace is always a constant evolution and the status has given us the formal recognition of our efforts."
"We can't just sit back, we have to continue to guard our PEACE, because peace is the ingredient and the foundation of our economic growth and development," Garcia said.
The military reported that from 2007-2009, 91 rebel returnees from the region had been integrated back to our society and were given financial and various livelihood assistance through the government's social integration program.
With the ISO hand over to the RPOC, the military can now concentrate in its mandate to focus on other areas where insurgency problem is still prevalent and assist LGUs in its shift to development programs at the countryside where barangays are the most vulnerable. (PIA-7/MBCN)
The AFP, PNP and various government agencies jointly signed the declaration on March 1 during the hand over of the Internal Security operations (ISO) from the military to the Regional Peace & Order council (RPOC-7) in Central Visayas headed by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
In her opening message during the regular meeting of the council on March 4, Cebu governor Gwen Garcia acknowledged the inter-agency efforts of the members of the RPOC-7 that help in the region's quest for lasting peace and development.
Garcia said, "Our unequivocal declaration of an all-out-war against the insurgency problem; total all-out-war against illegal gambling, illegal drugs and criminality contributed largely to the overall peace and order situation in the region today."
"Our comprehensive efforts to see to it that basic services reach the remotest communities through the social integration program of former rebels and surrenderees created the necessary government impact among the people," the governor added.
She proudly declared that we have achieved the "insurgency-free" status without a single bullet fired, without a single blood shed.
However, she added that "peace is always a constant evolution and the status has given us the formal recognition of our efforts."
"We can't just sit back, we have to continue to guard our PEACE, because peace is the ingredient and the foundation of our economic growth and development," Garcia said.
The military reported that from 2007-2009, 91 rebel returnees from the region had been integrated back to our society and were given financial and various livelihood assistance through the government's social integration program.
With the ISO hand over to the RPOC, the military can now concentrate in its mandate to focus on other areas where insurgency problem is still prevalent and assist LGUs in its shift to development programs at the countryside where barangays are the most vulnerable. (PIA-7/MBCN)
