𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘄 “𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲”

After years of fighting against the communist movement, the entire Province of Davao de Oro is now free from insurgency after the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) recently passed a resolution declaring the province as 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲.  

The declaration also came after the combined forces of the 1001st and 701st Infantry Brigades of the Philippine Army successfully dismantled all the Guerrilla Fronts, which were all under the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the province since 2016.

10th Infantry Agila Division Commander Major General Nolasco Mempin said that "the total defeat of all the CTGs in the province is attributed not only to the dedication and aggressiveness of the commanders on the ground but to the strong leadership of Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, in his exemplary efforts in achieving its ultimate goal of lasting peace in the province.”

In response, Governor Uy expressed gratitude to all the members of the PPOC, national agencies, private partners, local government units, and the security sector – the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for their unwavering commitment and relentless efforts to counter and weaken the influence of communist rebels.

“𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛-𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑦𝑎 𝑠𝑎 𝑔𝑜𝑏𝑦𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜, 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑦 𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑦 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑏-𝑜𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑤 𝑠𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑦𝑎, 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡, 𝑤𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑠𝑎 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑜 𝑑𝑒 𝑂𝑟𝑜,” Governor Uy said.

The Oplan Pagbabago to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, a localized whole of nation approach program of the province, also takes a significant stride in transforming conflict-affected areas into peaceful and developed communities. Among the intervention programs implemented are the conduct of Serbisyo caravans, building of Bayanihan schools, and infrastructure projects to the areas which were hard to reach and seemingly left out of much-needed government services. 

The ceremonial declaration was also attended by National Security Adviser, GEN Hermogenes Esperon Jr., GEN Jose Faustino, Former 10th ID Commander, and appointed OIC of the Department of National Defense, LTGEN Greg Almerol, Eastern Mindanao Command Commander, PMGEN Filmore Escobal, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, Brigades and Battalion Commanders, Provincial Officials, and other key dignitaries. (𝑅ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑛𝑜 – 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒, 𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑅𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝐴𝑙𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑧)