KABACAN, North Cotabato — The Philippine Army announced on Wednesday that the towns of Matalam and M'lang have been declared "insurgency free" after the dismantling of New People's Army guerilla fronts operating in the two areas.

According to 90th Infantry Battalion civil-military chief 1st Lt. Michael Allan Eugenio, neighboring towns were declared as free from NPA presence through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution 03 and SB Resolution 004 issued by the Matalam and M'lang legislative councils, respectively.

The two towns are the first to be declared "insurgency-free" among North Cotabato's one city and 17 municipalities.

He added that government forces neutralized the NPA Guerilla Front 53 in Matalam, and the GF 72 Mt. Alip Command operating at the borders of M'lang in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and part of Davao del Sur.