Marinduque declared insurgency-free

BOAC, Marinduque —The province of Marinduque has been officially declared as an insurgency-free province and with stable internal peace and security, the third province in the country to achieve the status.

The declaration was announced on Tuesday, March 26, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Stable Internal Peace and Security of the Province of Marinduque was signed between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Provincial Government held in the Provincial Capitol Building in the town of Boac.

The declaration of insurgency-free province means the province is now free from the factions of CPP–NPA–NDF in the province, and is no longer a threat to peace and order.

According to Police Regional Office director Police Brigadier General Tomas Apolinario, the last sighting of NPA factions in the province was 10 years ago.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Gen. Gilbert Gabay, commander of Special Operations Luzon Command (SOLCOM) has attributed the successful anti-insurgency operation to the efforts of the military, police, and the local government units of Marinduque.

The said activity was also attended by Presidential Adviser for Southern Luzon Sec. Dennis Hernandez, Marinduque Governor Romulo Bacorro Jr., Vice Gov. Mark Anthony Seno; Police Major Gen. Ericson Velasquez, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Southern Luzon (DIPO-SL).

Marinduque province was initially recommended to be declared insurgency-free in July 2009 since no insurgent activity was recorded in the province. After a series of validation conducted by different Intelligence units, the province was finally declared insurgency-free today on March 26.

Marinduque joined Cavite and Romblon, which was declared insurgency-free in 2017 and 2019, respectively, in the roster of provinces without communist rebels. —LDF, GMA News