San jose de buan: Local officials in the town of San Jose de Buan, historically known as a hotbed of communist rebel activity in Samar, have signed a document renouncing support for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

According to Philippines News Agency, the signing of the affidavit of commitment during the 2025 Local Peace Engagement forum on Monday is a powerful display of unity and commitment to lasting peace. The Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion (IB) emphasized the significance of the event, describing it as a movement towards building resilient, insurgency-free communities through dialogue, trust, and genuine collaboration.

Local officials from the town’s 14 villages and five sitios (sub-villages), along with youth council members and village watchmen, participated in the forum. This initiative aims to push the government’s peace agenda and strengthen the whole-of-nation approach against local communist armed conflict.

San Jose de Buan Vice Mayor Joaquin Elizalde made a public appeal to remaining NPA members, urging them to surrender and avail themselves of amnesty. He emphasized that the local government is prepared to assist those willing to abandon the communist ideology.

San Jose de Buan, a fourth-class municipality with a population of nearly 8,000, is strategically located within the tri-boundaries of Northern, Eastern, and Samar provinces. It has been one of the NPA’s strongholds on Samar Island. The most recent clash in the town occurred on June 9, when government forces seized five firearms from NPA rebels in Can-aponte village.

Despite its historical significance as an NPA hotbed, recent developments indicate a shift towards peace and reintegration efforts. Initiatives such as the local integration program and housing project for surrenderers are encouraging rebels to abandon the armed struggle.