TACLOBAN CITY — The commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division is hoping that after the recent declaration of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces as insurgency-free and development-ready areas, the provinces in Samar island would come next to be declared.
Major General Mario Chan, commanding general of the 8th ID, expressed this optimism in the recent Peace and Development Forum held in the town of Matuguinao in Samar province which he spearheaded.
This optimism is in relation to the Oplan Bayanihan program of the government aiming to end insurgency by 2016.
Matuguinao is where the 14th Infantry Infantry Battalion is set to transfer from its present base in San Jorge town.
Samar province remains as one of the stronghold of insurgents in the region, benefiting their operation from the problem of lack of access roads and communication difficulties.
Based on reports of the military, although there were several instances when rebels are seen in some towns of Samar their operation mainly is concentrated in the tri-boundary of the three provinces of Samar, which includes Matuguinao.
The presence of rebel forces in the town of Matuguinao had resulted for the five elementary schools in said town not to hold their classes because teachers have not reported to work for fears of rebels and some local officials in the villages are complaining of the 10% revolutionary tax that are being collected by the rebels.
The Peace and Development Forum was participated in by local government officials headed by Matuginao Mayor Melissa dela Cruz, barangay officials and residents headed by Liga ng mga Barangay president Norberto Diaz, and representatives of the police, religious sector and non-government organizations.
Mayor dela Cruz during the forum appealed to her constituents to be open to her administration by telling them their needs for her to deliver it immediately.
She added rebuilding trust between soldiers and civilians should start now, and complaints of civilian over abusive soldiers are matter of the past but this should still be addressed.
“The interventions from the military and national government should be carried out now, but the implementation of the laws is still a problem due to the presence of insurgents,” Mayor dela Cruz added.
Moreover Chan and the officials of Matuguinao town believed that the insurgency problem will be resolved and peace will be achieved in their town, but it can only be achieved once the government and civilians have concerted efforts.
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