CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) -- No less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conferred recognition to Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division for successfully dismantling two major guerrilla fronts operating in Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. 

Major General Audrey Pasia, division commander, said the soldiers under his command have dismantled the Komiteng Probinsiya Isabela, which is operating under the Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley, and the Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla Ampis, under the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee late last year.

Pasia said the successful operation against the two guerrilla fronts is attributed to the support of the different government agencies under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). 

"We would like to attribute this to the support of the community leaders in the areas where these rebel groups have been operating. The members of the Task Force ELCAC also contributed much to this endeavor, so we thank all of them," Pasia said. 

Pasia also stressed that the former rebels who surrendered to the folds of the law also served as key informants on the operations of the communist terrorist groups that led to the demolition of the red groups.

The army commander vowed to continue their selfless service to defend and protect the people against any atrocities in their area of operations. 

"We hope that the community leaders and other sectors will continue to help the army troupe towards the maintenance of peace and security in the northeastern Luzon regions," Pasia said. 

Meanwhile, Pasia said several towns that were formerly infiltrated by the New People's Army, are now insurgency-cleared while others are still in the clearing process. (OTB/MGE/PIA Isabela)