LUCENA CITY –– The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has declared the province of Laguna “insurgency-free” or liberated from the clutches of the communist New People’s Army (NPA). He noted that no NPA atrocity has been recorded in Laguna for more than a year. Aside from Laguna, Cavite had also been declared SIPS on Dec. 4, 2018, followed by Romblon on Feb. 21, 2019 and Marinduque on Mar 25, 2019. The declaration was contained in the Memorandum of Agreement signed by Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and Brig. General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., commander of the 2nd ID during the provincial peace and order council meeting Thursday, Ternio said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 27, 2019 07:52 UTC