• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) is eyeing next to facilitate the declaration of Negros Island in a state of stable internal peace and security (SIPS).
This was announced by the 3ID after both the provincial governments of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental have declared the two provinces under SIPS status on March 6, and 7, respectively, upon the recommendation of their respective Provincial Peace and Order Councils (PPOCs).
“With the current peace and security landscape, we, along with our partners and stakeholders, will facilitate the declaration of Negros Island as under SIPS,” Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, said in a statement.
Sison said they will then invite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grace this milestone in Negros.
“This is in fulfillment of the President’s desire to come back and declare Negros as insurgency free – a wish he intimated during his visit to the 3ID headquarters last year,” he added.
In a resolution, the Negros Occidental PPOC chaired by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that they recognize peace and order as a key factor in the continuous development process of every city and municipality for the attainment of inclusive and sustainable progress in the province.
Also cited in the PPOC resolution were various conditions which served as the bases for the declaration, including the overwhelming support of all cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental to the government’s effort against insurgency; passing of resolutions by the cities and municipalities declaring Negros Occidental with a SIPS status in all their respective areas and barangays; and the dismantling of all the remaining New People’s Army guerrilla fronts in the province.
Sison said that the speedy and timely approval of the PPOC resolution to declare Negros Occidental in a state of SIPS is “a testament of the unwavering resolve of the local government of Negros Occidental to end the local communist armed conflict.” | GB
