COVENANT OF PEACE SIGNED AT SAN LUIS, AURORA ASSURING EVICTION OF NPA INFLUENCE IN THE AREA

BALER, AURORA – A Covenant of Peace was signed at Barangay 02, Poblacion, San Luis, Aurora around 2 o’clock PM yesterday participated by the Local Government of San Luis, 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, San Luis Police Station together with the representatives of religious and business sector which aimed for a holistic approach to end Communist Terrorist’s influence in the area. The Covenant is a mutual agreement between stakeholders of San Luis to address the root causes that breed insurgency in support to the Insurgency Free Aurora Campaign launched last year.

LTC ESCARCHA said that the Covenant of Peace was a result of the unit’s extensive information drive that made other stakeholders to understand the urgency of giving importance in formulating a long lasting solution to end insurgency. The Covenant of Peace was signed by HON. ANNABELLE C TANGSON, Mayor of San Luis, PS/SUPT ROMULO A ESTEBAN, Provincial Director of Aurora Police Station and 1LT RONALDO G FERRER, Acting Battalion Executive Officer/ Civil Military Operations Officer as the representative of the 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion and witnessed by around fifty (50) participants coming from different Barangays of San Luis including Barangay leaders, heads of different agencies, representatives coming from religious and business sector. TANGSON said that the previous effects of insurgency in the municipality created an atmosphere unconducive for development. She also added that the Covenant of Peace will signify the courage and dedication of the people of San Luis to finally end insurgency by involving themselves in activities related to the Internal Security Operations specifically counter-insurgency efforts of the Army and PNP. PS/SUPT ESTEBAN on the other hand discussed the essence of unity in order to prevent criminality and urged the participants to be vigilant at all times. Some general provisions of the Covenant that were determined are the following: The Local Government Units (LGU’s) of San Luis shall continue with its active role in providing the need based projects in priority barangays and sectoral groups in order to address the basic issues in the Municipality related to insurgency, establishment of San Luis Ugnayan Center thru Municipal Peace and Order Council to monitor the implementation of the Covenant and establish Municipal Social Integration Committee to facilitate for the comprehensive integration plan of former rebels.

LTC ESCARCHA said that the people of San Luis are lucky to have leaders who have political will to end insurgency. “The Covenant of Peace is a reflection that the Communist Terrorists in San Luis are now evicted for good, voted out by the people”, LTC ESCARCHA added.