Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (PIA) -- The 17th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army has proposed that 21 barangays in the northwestern part of the province to be declared as insurgency-free. 

Lieutenant Lloyd Orbeta, civil military officer and spokesperson, said that they have been conducting clearing operations in the identified barangays which were assessed  as ready to be declared as insurgency-free communities. 

He clarified, however, that there are only 13 identified insurgency-infected barangays within their area of responsibility in the province of Cagayan, but they included the expansion areas and some places in the eastern part of Apayao which still belong to their coverage. 

On the other hand, he also said that the strength of the New Peoples Army (NPA) operating in the western side of Cagayan is already weakening with the continuous mass surrender of their regular members, militia ng bayan, and their supporters. 

"We intensified our campaign against the rebels. We go to the communities to discuss with the people the deceiving tactics of the NPA," Orbeta said. 

He said that their advocacy is especially focused on the the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who are usually victims of illegal recruitment activities of left leaning organizations. 

He further reported that there were already 21 regular members of the NPA, over 200 militia ng bayan members, and over 300 mass supporters who have surrendered. 

He further said that they have established several projects for the benefit of the former rebels which include livelihood opportunities, housing projects, trainings among others with the assistance of various government agencies. (JCK/OTB/PIA 2- Cagayan)