INSURGENCY-FREE. Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante bares during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in Davao City on Tuesday (Aug. 13, 2024) that six provinces, two municipalities, and one city in their area of responsibility have been declared insurgency-free. He added that Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte would soon join the insurgent-free areas. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)
DAVAO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced Tuesday that six provinces, two municipalities, and one city in its area of responsibility (AOR) have been declared insurgency-free.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum here, Eastmincom commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante identified the six provinces as Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Surigao del Norte.
Similarly, the municipalities Kadingilan and San Fernando in Bukidnon, and Davao City were also declared insurgency-free.
Bergante further said that the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte would soon join the list.
“There are still parameters needed before (they) will be declared insurgency-free. There is a certain number of New People’s Army (NPA) and firearms (to be surrendered) before we (make the declaration),” he said.
Bergante noted that although the guerrilla fronts have a “breaking point,” they cannot predict as to when this would occur.
“We are not certain as to when. I don’t suggest timelines because it will just come,” he said.
At present, he said, they are concentrating on healing and reconciliation in the areas now free from insurgency.
From January to August, Eastmincom recorded 241 regular NPA and 56 Milisya ng Bayan surrenderers.
About 270 firearms were also surrendered – 202 high-powered and 68 low-powered guns – and 25 anti-personnel mines were seized during the period. (PNA)
