The Area Clearing Evaluation and Validation Board of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has declared seven barangays in the first district of Negros Oriental as free from infiltration of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.

This was reported at a meeting convened yesterday by the ACEVB of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Jamindan, Capiz, and headed by Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Amat and attended by Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II.

Amat said the meeting was held with military and police commanders in Negros and Central Visayas to validate if the areas recommended for clearing had passed the parameters set by the AFP.

Cleared were barangays Manluminsag in La Libertad, Tinangonan Hill, Linantuyan, Banwague, and Mabunga, all of Guihulngan, Puan in Vallehermoso and Cabang in Jimalalud.

Two other barangays initially included in the evaluation have yet to be cleared. They are Trinidad in Guihulngan and Bayog in Canlaon City .

Amat said they could not yet be declared as insurgency-free because of reports of the presence of a left-wing organization and sightings of presumed rebel groups there.

Among the parameters set by the AFP-ACEVB to declare an area insurgency-free are the conduct of Special Operations Team activities, establishment of the barangay intelligence network and barangay defense system, dismantling of Communist political-military structures, and the restricted access of Communist rebels to the said villages.

The 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, headed by Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, covers the areas of Ayungon to Canlaon City in the first district of Negros Oriental.

The ACEVB report and recommendation was approved and signed by the members of the board and by Gov. Macias.

Macias has expressed hope that the clearing of these villages from Communist infiltration will be sustained, especially with the May 2010 elections.

Brig. Gen. Amat, meanwhile said, most barangays in Negros Oriental have been cleared of the insurgency. He said those in the southern part of the province, are also due for recommendation for clearing, but will still have to be evaluated.

Lt. Col. Erwin Bernard Neri, commanding officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Siaton in the south, said they will also recommend some of the insurgency-affected barangays for clearing. These are Talalak, Nagbinlod, and Milagrosa in Sta. Catalina town and Mantiquil and Tayak in Siaton.

Meanwhile, Amat admitted that there is always the possibility that the insurgents will still return to the villages that have been recently cleared.

“We cannot totally say that because they (the NPAs) are mobile. Although we have cleared (these barangays) there is always the possibility they will pass through these areas because of the permit-to-campaign fees,” Amat said, referring to the fees being collected by the rebels before and during the conduct of a political exercise so candidates can enter certain areas on their campaign sorties.

To prevent the re-entry of insurgents to the cleared areas, civilian volunteer organizations and barangay defense systems have been put in place, he added.*JFP/JG

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