SAN
FERNANDO CITY — La Union is the only province in Ilocos region that is
rebel-free, according to provincial officials who said this has contributed
to growth of its economy and tourism.
The absence of the New
People's Army in the province was reaffirmed at a Regional Peace and Order
Council meeting last week that included Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III and
representatives of the police and military units assigned to the region.
La Union was declared
rebel-free on Sept. 4, 2009.
Lt. Col. Julio Osias,
commander of the 81st Infantry Battalion said the military is pushing to get
commitment of all stakeholders in maintaining peace in La Union.
“All members of the
RPOC are now committed to continue its efforts in bringing La Union Province
more economic growth and development,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Angelito De
Leon, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, added “the continued support of
the AFP to the province even after its declaration as insurgency-fee shows its
dedication to serve the people beyond the threat."
He added
"stakeholders shall continue to help addressing local issues that might be
a potential or problem that the insurgents would want to exploit.”
Osias added, “we will
continue to support and secure La Union by mobilizing our resources to prevent
resurgence of the protracted war of the communist terrorists.”
The meeting was held
the same week that the government canceled backchannel talks with the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines panel over recent NPA attacks, notably on a
convoy of the Presidential Security Group traveling through Cotabato province
on July 19.
The Palace said that
the clash happened when the PSG convoy noticed that around 50 NPA fighters
manning a checkpoint were not government forces. Local police said the NPA were
wearing Army uniforms.
"The
NPA checkpoint was put up to interdict military and police vehicles carrying
weapons plying the route as part of the NPA campaign in response to the CPP’s
call to fight martial law in Mindanao," the Communist Party of the
Philippines said in a statement
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