MANILA, Philippines — According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), they have “liberated” 23 provinces from 40 years of Communist insurgency. The AFP through its spokesman Col Arnulfo M. Burgos Jr. said that through the military’s Internal Security Plan (ISP) which is also called Bayanihan, the provinces were removed from the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, its armed wing, and the National Democratic Front, its political wing (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The 23 provinces are the following: Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Guimaras, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato. In these provinces, the rebels’ presence has been so insignificant that the AFP has turned over the maintenance of peace and order to the PNP.

For this reason, there are indicators that progress in these provinces is unhampered without any major incident of violence and extortion. In 2011, the rebels lost 341 of their members – 235 of them surrendered and the rest were either captured or killed in encounters. There are still about 25 provinces with varying degrees of NPA influence.

It is our hope that with such pro-people anti insurgency programs, the AFP, with the total support of the LGUs and their officials, will succeed in bringing peace all over the country. This expectation is based on reality. For example, years ago there were some NPAs in Bohol. There were also the beginnings of a build up of rebels in the mountains of Danao City and Tuburan, Cebu. However when the governors of these provinces, together with the local officials down to the last barangay, came out forcefully against the NPAs, the rebels disappeared from Bohol and Cebu. Unconfirmed reports said that they transferred to Negros island.

Today, Bohol is enjoying a boom in tourism. And of course Cebu, in addition to the huge number of tourists, has a very prosperous economy. This formula is simple enough that anybody can understand it... Bring good government closer to the people so that peace and order becomes a reality, which in turn produces investment, jobs, which in the end produce progress and stability and cut down crime to the minimum.

Another very important factor in anti-insurgency programs would be the information and counter propaganda aspect, which must be monitored every day. Not just by the AFP, PNP, the LGUs, but the media as well must be vigilant so that it will not be used or fall for the propaganda line of those who want chaos to prevail so that they can take over the government.

I am sure that the press is wary of front or underground organizations which are fond of using the words “people’s” when in fact they are rebels, “democracy” when in fact they are dictatorial, “human rights” when in fact they only use it as a shield for their illegal activities. And when they kidnap their victims, those rights are considered a hindrance when they conduct their “people’s court” kangaroo trials.

A final word on security and stability... our armed civil servants must be treated fairly and justly in accordance with our Constitution and our laws. They serve our country and the chain of command faithfully and with dignity... They serve the office and not the person holding the temporary office. This is the ideal concept which should be pursued and attained in the real world.... Happy New Year to all!... rene.espina@hotmail.com