Cagayan Province now insurgency-free

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — The Province of Cagayan has been declared “insurgency-free and in a state of stable internal peace and security” by the 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) during its 117th regular session.

Philippine Army’s Capt. Gavin Salalima, spokesperson of the 502nd Infantry Brigade, presented the factors for declaring Cagayan “insurgency-free” during the session, citing that the main reason for this was the dismantling of the East and West Front and the Komiteng Probinsiya Cagayan.

He cited other factors such as the neutralization of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) ranking officials in Cagayan, such as Edgar Mancao Arbitrario, Ka Karl, and Gerald Paredog, alias Andres; and the mass abandonment of former rebels and supporters to CTG, including Michael Cedrick Casano and Patricia Nicole Cierva.

According to 502nd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Eugene Mata PA, even if there are still nine remaining members of the Cagayan Valley Regional Committee an area can now be declared “insurgency-free” in accordance with the guidelines in the Armed Forces of the Philippines PLEDS Plan 2023-2028.

“Here in Province of Cagayan, we have totally destroyed the structure of the red and white area. Our basic reference is the PLED’s Plan Pagkakaisa 2023-2028,” the brigade commander said.