The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is aiming to declare Negros Island in a state of “Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS)” by the first quarter of 2024.
The 3ID, in a press statement Friday, February 2, cited the dismantling of all guerrilla fronts of the Komiteng Rehiyon -Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS) operating in the island and the absence of major violence and incidents perpetrated by the Communist Terrorists Group in the area for more than a year as significant factors for the declaration.
All guerrilla fronts in Negros Island have been dismantled, it said, pointing out that on Oct. 9, 2023 Central Negros 1 (CN1) was declared dismantled, followed by Central Negros 2 (CN2) on Nov. 13, 2023.
Both the South East Front (SEF) and Northern Negros Front (NNF) were dismantled on April 6, 2021, the 3ID statement also said.
The South West Front (SWF) was declared dismantled at the Visayas Command based on the findings of the Area Clearing Validation Committee as of Feb. 1, 2024 and awaits a joint resolution from the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center, the 3ID added.
Since 2023 to the present date, the 3ID has successfully cleared 219 barangays from the influence of the Communist group through the continuous implementation of the Community Support Program. Out of these 219 barangays, 145 are located in Negros Island, it said.
Among the 145 formerly insurgency-ridden barangays in Negros, 121 have already received the Barangay Development Program (BDP) projects, the 3ID added.
MGen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said “declaring Negros Island in a state of ‘Stable Internal Peace and Security’ will further strengthen and empower the local government units in the performance of their respective mandates in pursuit of just and lasting peace”.
“We are more than determined to end the local communist armed conflict in Negros in order to achieve genuine peace and progress for the Negrenses,” he said.*