INSURGENCY has become irrelevant in Bohol. Brig. Gen. Alan Luga, commander of the Philippine Army's 802 nd Infantry Brigade (802 Bde) based in Camp Rajah Sikatuna in Carmen town gave this assessment during the last Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting under the Aumentado administration held at the Dagohoy Hall of the Bohol Tropics in Tagbilaran City. Luga congratulated Gov. Erico Aumentado and the multi-sectoral PPOC for the civilian government-led anti-insurgency campaign that allowed the military in the province to hasten the accomplishment of its mission.

“ The Armed Forces of the Philippines in general, the 8 th Infantry Division under Maj. General Arthur Tabaquero, the 802 nd Infantry Brigade and the 2 nd Special Forces Battalion in particular would like to congratulate Gov. Erico Aumentado for a successful anti-insurgency campaign in Bohol,” he said. The Aumentado formula of poverty reduction for peace and development showed that the five front committees of the New People's Army (NPA) the army had faced in 2001 have been reduced to zero – and with it, the dramatic drop of the rebels' strength, high-powered firearms and barangay affectation, Luga pointed out. He also said poverty incidence dropped from 53.6 percent to 28.4 percent, while tourist arrivals increased from 90,000 to 500,000, citing Aumentado's leadership and unwavering support extended to army units and commanders assigned in Bohol for the past nine years.

“The declaration of Bohol province as insurgent-free and subsequent hand-over of ISO [internal security operations] responsibility from the AFP/PNP [Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police] to the Bohol PPOC in March 2010 is a clear manifestation of this successful anti-insurgency campaign,” Luga said. The military attributed the success to the holistic approach introduced by the provincial government, good governance and convergence of efforts of all stakeholders. “And, for as long as the new set of elected provincial and local leaders would continue the kind of governance, programs and the strong political will of denouncing the NPA and their illegal activities, Bohol will continue to be insurgency free,” he added. At the same time, he assured the PPOC members that the army will never be complacent even with the feat since Bohol will always remain a priority recovery area for the NPA.

To note, this feat earned for Bohol Administrative Order 201 wherein, among others, President Arroyo made the province a template for other local government units to follow in the fight against insurgency. The order also urges relevant agencies to accelerate or expand such development efforts, "especially the Bohol local peace efforts." "The message should be clear: When peace is forged, development follows," the AO reads. Aumentado has also been in the forefront in strategizing against the re-entry of insurgents – and other lawless elements and contraband – to the province through the Bohol Local Integrated Security System (Bliss) that the army is implementing. Luga vowed that they will remain on alert to “preserve the anti-insurgency gains we have established in Bohol and to prevent the reentry of insurgents for a continued peace and economic development”.  The army does not limit its missions to combat operations, however. Their two-pronged approach includes the left-hand punch – special operations team (SOT) methodology and other “civilian” approaches like active participation in medical-dental civic action programs (Medcap) initiated by the PPOC.

In Bohol, the military is also a pillar in the Local Peace Forum (LPF) chaired by Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran and Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak before him, co-chaired by the governor; assists rebel returnees in the Social Integration Program of the government, participates in the Local Monitoring Board of the provincial government, conducts skills training for rebel returnees and civilians under the SPIN Program spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry, and constructs school buildings and other infrastructures – all strengthening Aumentado's legacy: his signature poverty reduction for peace and development.