The significant gains in the campaign against insurgency in Panay prompted the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippine Army to seek the support of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict-Western Visayas (RTF-ELCAC 6) in declaring the island as a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) zone by September.

“The declaration of SIPS is expected to further bolster development initiatives, attract investments, and create a more conducive environment for peace and prosperity in this part of the country,” Major General Marion Sison, 3ID commander and co-chair of the Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support cluster of the RF-ELCAC 6, said in a statement yesterday.

At a full council meeting of the RTF-ELCAC 6 on August 28, the 3ID presented the proposal, citing the recent neutralization of key leaders of the Kilusang Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P) and the central front of the New People’s Army and focused military operations that would satisfy the criteria for the dismantling of the front, paving the way for achieving the SIPS zone.

The 3ID said there was a decrease in manpower from 184 to 181 and firepower from 242 to 109 from the first quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024.

Further, 11 key leaders and members of the communist groups in Panay were neutralized in a series of encounters from July 1, 2024 to present.

They included KR-P regional secretary Vicente Hinojales, deputy secretary Maria Concepcion Araneta Bocala, and Central Front secretary Vivian Torato Teodosio.

The province of Antique is also gearing up for the SIPS status, with the Provincial Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council to make the declaration next month.

“This declaration is a testament to the collaborative efforts, hard work, and dedication of RTF-ELCAC 6, local government units, and stakeholders, signifying a significant milestone in our collective endeavors to achieve lasting peace and security,” Sison added. (PNA)