In a formal declaration during the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month 2023 in Puerto Princesa, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Palawan is now free from communist insurgency.
The proclamation follows a joint resolution by the Palawan Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) and the Provincial Peace and Order Council in 2022, which Marcos affirmed during the event.
Marcos commended the collaborative efforts of regional and provincial task forces, the provincial peace and order council, and their partner agencies for successfully implementing a comprehensive approach to end local communist armed conflict.
The joint resolution, grounded in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Clearing Validation Board’s Resolutions 01 S-2020, 01 S-2021, and 01 S-2022, officially declares all designated Focused Areas and Kinokonsolida Konsolidadong Ekspansyon at Rekoberi zones in Palawan and Puerto Princesa City as insurgent-free.
The coordinated efforts of law-enforcement agencies have resulted in the absence of New People’s Army (NPA)-initiated violent incidents and non-violent urban activities since the fourth quarter of 2020.
A report from the Regional Intelligence Committee-4B further confirmed the absence of NPA guerilla formations in Palawan, supported by the lack of relevant intelligence reports since October 2021.
Additionally, on March 20, 2023, the Sangguniang Panlungsod declared Puerto Princesa a zone of peace and development, showing its support for the insurgency-free status.
The Western Command anticipates that Palawan’s newfound environment of peace will enhance the quality of life for its residents and make it a more attractive destination for visitors. (AI/MNM)
