“Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready” Leyte

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City –The 8^th Infantry Division thru the 802^nd Brigade under Colonel John S. Bonafos facilitated the signing on Joint Declaration of “Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development-Ready”Leyte between Major General Mario F. Chan, the Commander of 8ID, PA; and Honorable Carlos Jericho I. Petilla, the Governor of Leyte Province. The signing was held on December 08, 2011 at Leyte Provincial Capitol, Tacloban City and was witnessed by the members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Leyte and other members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines headed by Brigadier General Alejandro H. Estomo, the Deputy Commander of Central Command AFP.

Leyte is the seventh province in Visayas to be declared “insurgent-free” after the provinces of Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, Siquijor and Southern Leyte. .The 8ID had committed to make the Province of Leyte “insurgent-free” before this year ends, and with the relentless efforts of the Local Government Units (LGUs), Local Government Agencies (LGAs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, leyte is finally “insurgent-free”.

The signing on Joint Declaration is a manifestation that the Internal Peace and Security Operations in Leyte have worked and its responsibility is handed over to the local government with the military supporting the local government and police in maintaining the peace and order in Leyte Province.

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