BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines — After more than 20 years of fighting insurgents in the province, a top Philippine Army (PA) official declared the other day that Bataan is now insurgency-free.

Colonel Gregorio Catapang, Brigade Commander of the Army’s 703rd Infantry Brigade, made the declaration before the members of the Bataan Provincial Board. “Insurgency is not a problem anymore in Bataan,” said he said.

Accompanying him during the peace, order and security briefing were Lt. Col. Desederio Alaba, commanding officer of the 7th CMO Battalion based in Camp Camacho, here; Reserve Army Col. Enrico Yuzon; and other army junior officials.

Catapang, who saw action in the province way back in the early 90s when he was a young captain handling a company of soldiers, said the army and the people of Bataan should be always vigilant to maintain the peaceful atmosphere of Bataan.

“We want to bring those who have lain low rebels into mainstream society and let them live a normal way of life,” he said.