CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar – The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Eastern Visayas held its quarterly meeting on March 13, 2024, in Tacloban City, where it highlighted substantial gains in counterinsurgency efforts and peace maintenance across the region.
Presided over by RPOC Chairperson and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the meeting was attended by council members and officials from the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army, Police Regional Office (PRO) 8, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other member agencies.
Lieutenant Colonel Manuel B. Degay Jr., the Operations Officer of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Storm, provided updates on the council’s Internal Security Operations in Eastern Visayas.
A major achievement discussed was the joint efforts of RPOC-8 and the Regional Task Force 8 in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), resulting in the degradation of the capabilities of four Sub-Regional Committees (SRC) and one Island Committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) during the first quarter of the year. This was confirmed by the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (NJPSCC), which reported the dismantling of P2, IC Levox, and Elcon Platoon, SRC Browser.
Additionally, significant accomplishments included the neutralization of the Secretary of SRC Sesame during an encounter in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on January 6, 2024, the capture of nine high-powered firearms and other Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) items in Calbayog City, Samar on February 4, 2024, and the neutralization of two NPAs, including one high-value individual, during an encounter in Albuera, Leyte on February 10, 2024.
Major General Camilo Ligayo, Commander of 8ID, emphasized that these accomplishments were the result of the collaborative efforts of RPOC-8 member agencies, which significantly contributed to the ongoing fight against EVRPC.
“This year, we aim to completely eradicate and achieve total victory against the EVRPC. This goal will be realized through significant advancements in our anti-insurgency efforts, highlighting the undeniable strength derived from our collective endeavors. United as a cohesive force, we pave the way for lasting peace and progress across Eastern Visayas,” Maj. Gen. Ligayo emphasized. (With reports and photo from 8ID DPAO)
