Saint Bernard: The town of Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte has been declared as completely free from the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA), an army official said Thursday. With no sightings of armed rebels for several years now, the town has achieved insurgency-free status and officially has stable internal peace and security conditions (SIPC), Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said.

According to Philippines News Agency, officials led a ceremony on Wednesday to highlight the declarations, which included the signing of memoranda of agreements and pledges of commitment, along with the simultaneous release of white doves, symbolizing peace and new beginnings. Vestuir lauded the collaborative efforts of the members of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the support of the community that led to attaining a significant milestone in terms of peace and security.

‘This declaration is important as it’s a symbol of the strong commitment of the local government units towards peace and security. We are happy that many towns in Southern Leyte attained the SIPSC status. This is the fruit of everyone’s efforts and not just by the military,’ Vestuir said in a phone interview Thursday.

Saint Bernard town Mayor Edito Mulig thanked all stakeholders who were instrumental in achieving the state of SIPSC. He said this milestone paves the way for further progress in their town, enhancing the quality of life for their constituents. The Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government reaffirmed their strong support and commitment to sustaining stable peace and security in Saint Bernard.

Saint Bernard, a coastal town with a population of more than 28,000, is located 151 kilometers south of Tacloban City, the regional capital.