TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 20 -- Villareal town in Samar province has been declared insurgency-free following a resolution passed by local government officials upon the recommendation of the Municipal Peace and Order Council.

Mayor Marilou Latorre, together with 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Pompeyo Jayson Almagro and other officials from the military and police, led the formal declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) on Wednesday.

"This declaration is not an end but a new beginning - a promise to sustain the peace we have achieved," Latorre said in her message.

"We owe this victory to the unwavering dedication of our local government, the courage of our security forces, and, most importantly, the acti...