SANTA MARIA, Laguna (PIA) – The Regional Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) continues to make strides in instituting a lasting peace in the countryside.

To Brigadier General Cerilo Balaoro Jr., commander of the 202nd Infantry Unifier Brigade of the Philippine Army, a testament to the RTF-ELCAC gains is the reintegration to the folds of the law of former members of communist terrorist groups (CTGs) due to the government’s whole-of-nation approach.

“ELCAC ang programa ng gobyerno o ang Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) na kung saan ang ating mga kapatid o kapwa nating Pilipino na naligaw ng landas o naging miyembro ng CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army) ay magbalik-loob at bibigyan po ng karampatang mga programa at intervention ng ating gobyerno,” Balaoro said.

The Army executive added: “Ito po ang ginagawang interventions ng iba’t-ibang ahensya. So sa madaling salita, binibigyan natin at pine-prepare natin ang lahat ng bumabalik-loob na mga rebelde para mag-bagong buhay at mabuhay nang mapayapa at masagana.”

Balaoro cited five former members of Militia ng Bayan who surrendered to Santa Maria Mayor Ma. Roselle Carolino on July 31, as a demonstration of the CTGs’ reintegration.

Subsequently, the town of Santa Maria in Laguna was also declared under the Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS), more commonly known as “insurgency free” after establishing more than a year without violent activities initiated by the communist insurgents.

Mayor Carolino assured that reintegration programs are laid out for the former rebels as they return to mainstream society.

“Yung mga programs na io-offer namin especially livelihood programs ay ipa-prioritize namin sila. That’s aside from connecting them with the services being offered by our national government and the Philippine Army has programs also. So talagang ico-connect namin sila for us to be able to help them,” Carolino said.

A far-flung municipality with upland barangays, Santa Maria sits at the northernmost part of Laguna, surrounded by the provinces of Rizal and Quezon. 

The Philippine Army has noted several CPP-NPA-NDF initiated violence in the past, such as an armed encounter in the municipal station in 2000 and ambush incidents on soldiers and police officers from early 2000 to 2010.

For chairwoman Julieta Mendoza Gavia, of the upland Brgy. Matalinting, the SIPS declaration is helpful to their community where insurgents usually take refuge.

“Magiging maayos ang aming barangay, ang aming bayan. Kasi tulad naming nasa matataas na barangay na sabi nga nila ay isa sa mga pinupuntahan nitong mga NPA, mas maganda yung mangyayari na ito para mawala na ang aming pangamba sa seguridad at maging payapa (ang barangay),” she said.

Gavia also said that their barangay focused on protecting the youth, who are vulnerable to CTG influence, and thought them about the importance of maintaining peace and security in the area.

“Sa tulad kong barangay chairman, ang kabataan ang aming priority, dahil ang mga kabataan ang kailangan naming pag-ingatan at ang kaayusan sa aming barangay. Kailangang malaman (ng mga kabataan) na ito (ang SIPS) upang walang makapasok o wala ng mga pangyayari na magkaroon muli ng mga NPA sa aming barangay,” she added. 

Even as the town was declared insurgency free, the Philippine Army committed continuous patrol and monitoring of their forces in the area.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating interventions pagdating sa peace and security sa bayan ng Santa Maria. Nandito pa rin ang 1st Infantry Battallion para sa kanyang peace and security efforts especially sa mga far-flung barangays ng Santa Maria,” BGen. Balaoro said.

Mayor Carolino hopes that the peace and security efforts of the government would bring renewed opportunities for their town.

“Nung naging progressive na ang bayan ng Santa Maria, the tourists really come to Santa Maria. Yung dati na kinatatakutan ang Santa Maria, ngayon very curious nang puntahan ng mga tao. ‘Yun naman ang benefit sa aming mga locals, when tourists come syempre opportunity ‘yan para magkaroon ng trabaho, magkaroon ng benefit. There really is a connection [between] peace and order and progress.” (CH,AM/PIA-Laguna)