05/06/2026
Region 2 Breaks Free from Decades of Insurgency
CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela โ Cagayan Valley celebrates a significant breakthrough with the formal declaration of Region 2 as insurgency-free and under a State of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SSIPS).
For many years, communities across the region were affected by the presence of the CPP-NPA-NDF. In several remote communities, residents faced threats, intimidation, and disruptions that hindered development and limited access to basic services. Farmers were subjected to extortion through so-called โrevolutionary taxes,โ while infrastructure projects, schools, healthcare services, and livelihood opportunities struggled to reach communities affected by armed conflict.
The declaration symbolizes the culmination of years of efforts by various sectors to address insurgency and create conditions for lasting peace. It also reflects the resilience of communities that continued to pursue progress despite the challenges brought about by decades of conflict.
MGen Gulliver L. Seรฑires, Commander of the 5th Infantry (STAR) Division, Philippine Army, emphasized that the achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of different stakeholders.
โThis achievement is not the accomplishment of any single institution. Rather, it is the result of the unwavering commitment of our Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, Law Enforcement Agencies, Indigenous Cultural Communities, Civil Society Organizations, the private sector, and the peace-loving people of Cagayan Valley who worked together under the Whole-of-Nation Approach to address the root causes of conflict and bring government services closer to our communities,โ said MGen Seรฑires.
At the same time, the 5th Infantry Division reaffirmed its readiness to support the AFPโs broader mission of territorial defense, contributing not only to internal security efforts but also to the protection of the countryโs sovereignty. | via Mico
