Cagayan SP declares Cagayan “rebel-free”

BAGUIO CITY(December 5, 2024) -- The Cagayan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has declared the province as “insurgency-free and in a state of stable internal peace and security” during its 117th regular session on Wednesday, the Northern Luzon Command of the AFP said.

Philippine Army Capt. Gavin Salalima, spokesperson of the 502nd Infantry Brigade cited

the East and West Front and the Komiteng Probinsiya (KOMPROB) Cagayan, formed in 2011, was dismantled giving the main reason for this declaration. He also cited the neutralization of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) ranking officials in Cagayan, such as Edgar Mancao Arbitrario, Ka Karl, and Gerald Paredog, alias Andres; and the mass abandonment of former rebels and supporters to CTG, including Michael Cedrick Casano and Patricia Nicole Cierva as additional reasons for this declaration.

Brig. Gen. Eugene Mata, commander of the 502nd Infantry Brigade, said that “even if there are still nine remaining members of the Cagayan Valley Regional Committee (KRCV), an area can now be declared “insurgency-free” in accordance with the guidelines in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) PLEDS Plan 2023-2028.” 

The government has totally destroyed the structure of the red and white area, referenced on the PLED’s Plan Pagkakaisa 2023-2028, Mata added.

“The AFP PLEDS Plan "Pagkakaisa" lends itself to the current administration's drive towards national unity and sustaining security and stability towards lasting peace and development by ending insurgency and defeating terrorism. It defines how the AFP shall work with the rest of the nation to achieve total victory, the military commanded explained. “Total victory encompasses physical and psychological victory against the threat groups while simultaneously making communities resilient from exploitation and radicalization. It does not mean total annihilation of enemy force but rather the dismantling or destruction of its entire system, which makes security threat groups resilient.” In other words, the symbiotic system of the red and white area has been destroyed completely,” Mata stressed.

Cagayan being “insurgency-free”, the Philippine Army assured they will not leave, as they will still remain alert and will continue to assist the PNP. 

The Cagayan Provincial Peace and Order Council first passed the resolution for an “insurgency-free” Cagayan during the 4th quarter meeting led by Gov. Manuel Mamba.

The formal declaration however is set on December 30, 2024.