Expect peace and security to reign in 24 municipalities in Quezon Province following the declaration of municipality of Pitogo as insurgency-free.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the local government unit (LGU) of Pitogo formalized the recognition in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which affirmed the town as having a 'Stable Internal Peace and Security'.
Recently, the municipality of Catanauan also enjoyed the insurgency-free status after the withdrawal of an insurgent from the group Milisyang Bayan and 134 (formerly CTG Supporters/ UGMO).
According to Police Colonel, Ledon Monte, the status of an insurgency-free city or municipality can contribute to the a town’seconomic direction.
"Ang nasabing deklarasyon ay isang testamento ng pagnanais ng mga mamayan ng pitogo ng Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran. Gayon din ang kanilang masidhing dedikasyon na palayain ang kanilang bayan mula sa terorismo at sa halip ay gamitin ang potensyon nito upang paunlarin ang ekonomiya, komersiyo at turismo na mapapakinabangan ng mga mamamayan niyo," Police Colonel Ledon Monte, Provincial Director- Quezon Regional Police Office, said.
Several counter-insurgency plans had been implemented by the government, including the creating of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict thru Executive Order No. 70 series of 2018.