BRGY. MINOYAN, Murcia – Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado yesterday said there is need for more participation of local government units and other agencies in Negros Occidental, in addressing the root causes of insurgency.

If there is no delivery of basic services to areas affected by the insurgency problem, our efforts at enlightening the people on the real intention of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and addressing threats of the armed insurgents will only go to waste, Ibrado said.

“We have a very good example in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte where the insurgency problem was reduced to a minimum because of the active participation of LGUs, especially their governors,” Ibrado, who led the groundbreaking of the Kalinga sa Kawal Housing project here, said.

Ibrado yesterday cited the efforts of Mayor Esteban Coscolluuela who has provided jobs and livelihood opportunities to rebel returnees in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Ibrado who also paid a courtesy call on Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, said “if we stop the insurgency, I think we will be one the richest country in Asia,” citing tourism and agriculture potentials.

Ibrado said he was happy that numerous concerns raised against the military were settled in different meetings of the Church-Military Advisory Group in Negros.

Brig. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, newly-installed 3rd Infantry Division commander, said they are targeting a reduction of the insurgency problem in Negros and Panay islands to an insignificant level by yearend.

Police records show that there are 781 insurgency-affected barangays in Western Visayas, of which 344 are in Negros Occidental.

The armed strength of the New People’s Army in the region was estimated at 405, which is equivalent to a battalion-size unit of the Philippine Army, with more than 300 firearms, police records also showed.*GPB

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