PEACEFUL. The shoreline of Pagsanghan, Samar in this undated photo. The town is the first area on the island declared free from threats by the New People’s Army with no sightings of armed rebels in the past seven years. (Photo courtesy of Pagsanghan local government)
TACLOBAN CITY – The town of Pagsanghan in Samar is the first area on the island declared free from threats by the New People’s Army (NPA) with no sightings of armed rebels in the past seven years.
The Philippine Army and the local government unit of Pagsanghan jointly declared on Monday that the town had stable internal peace and security.
Key officials signed a deal “solidifying the collaborative efforts” to sustain peace gains.
Philippine Army 803rd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Efren Morados said the absence of any monitored communist terrorist group activities for seven years signifies progress made in eliminating insurgency.
“The achievement of stable internal peace and security in Pagsanghan is a testament to the relentless efforts and unwavering commitment of the army in partnership with the local government and community members. The milestone achievement in Pagsanghan is a result of the combined determination, sacrifice, and resilience exhibited by all stakeholders involved,” Morados added.
The local government also declared the NPA persona non-grata through a resolution passed by the town council.
Morados urged other towns in Samar to earn the same status to “help erase the stigma that Samar is a stronghold of insurgency.”
“The road to achieving peace is not an easy one. It needs strong collaboration between leaders, government forces, and citizens. Vigilance and cooperation are required to maintain the peace we fought so hard to achieve,” Morados added.
Pagsanghan Mayor Sed Hendrix Tan said the declaration confirms the result of the survey that 99 percent of town residents feel that they are safe.
“The army assured us that they will still help secure our area even if we are declared to have stable internal peace and security,” Tan said.
Pagsanghan is a 5th-class coastal town in Samar province with a population of 7,959 people. (PNA)
