Negros Occidental now free of insurgents

Negros Occidental has been declared cleared and unaffected by communist insurgents and is thus relatively peaceful.

The status of the province, under Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, was confirmed by the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Western Visayas, which declared Negros Occidental under a state of stable internal peace and security (SIPS) during its 1st quarter meeting in Bago City on Monday, March 25.

Lacson, chairman of the RPOC, said the declaration would have a counterpart declaration from the neighboring Negros Oriental.

“The declaration will not mean the military will leave the island. They will still be around,” Lacson said.

It really means that the campaign of our military, the governor said, “is gaining ground.”

Early this month, the provincial joint peace and security coordinating council composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard recommended the SIPS.

According to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, all five guerrilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in Negros Island have been dismantled.

These include the Central Negros 1, Central Negros 2, South East Front, Northern Negros Front and South West Front.

Lacson said they would submit a resolution declaring Negros Occidental under SPIS to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who will formally make a formal declaration.

“The region will then invite the President to come to Negros and declare both the provinces under SPIS,” he added.

They will try to submit it to Malacañang in April or May, Lacson said.