By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Isabela Mayor Irene Consunji Montilla yesterday revealed areas of the municipality continue to be plagued with insurgency-related problems, particularly those in remote areas of the town. She identified the affected neighborhoods as Barangays Libas, Sikatuna, Sibucauan, San Agustin, Cansalungon, Riverside, Maytubig and Makilignit.
She pointed out, due to the lingering problems, the town is a pilot area for the Western Visayas for Serbisyo Negrosanon-Retooled Community Support Program. The program, a joint effort by the Negros Occidental Provincial Government, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Army, seeks to determine the specific problems resulting in the current situation.
Last November, following a resolution signing and “Walk for Peace” at the Isabela Municipal Plaza, the municipality formally declared the New People’s Army (NPA), along with the National Democratic Front, the political arm for the Communist Party of the Philippines, “persona non-grata,” or unwelcome, in the town.
However, the following week, the Isabela Police Station was put on ‘heightened alert’ following the capture of seven suspected NPA members during an encounter between the insurgent group and soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion at Sitio Canlusong in Barangay Cansalungon./DGB, WDJ