Major General Nicanor Vivar, the newly-installed commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (CentCom) based in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, has vowed to help Bohol and Cebu and other Central Visayas provinces, maintain their insurgency-free status. Vivar made the assurance to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III Thursday during a courtesy call at the governor's office at the Cebu Capitol. The AFP CentCom declared Cebu and Bohol insurgency-free in 2009.

Meanwhile, Gov. Edgar M. Chatto hailed Vivar's commitment of sustaining Bohol's status as rebel-free, which is essential in the province's tourism boom and economic growth. On May 31 this year, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 7 also announced that Siquijor is free of insurgents while Negros Oriental is “on its way” of becoming insurgency-free. The RPOC 7 also declared that the whole Central Visayas is “conflict manageable” and a “development-ready” region. Major General John Bonafos, former Centcom chief, said violent incidences have “weakened or minimized” in these areas.

Bonafos was appointed as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vice chief-of-staff during simple ceremonies last week. Bonafos replaced Lt. Gen. Virgilio O. Domingo who served in an acting capacity as AFP vice chief-of-staff after Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang's appointment as chief-of-staff last July. Prior this appointment, Bonafos was appointed head of the Special Operations Command. He also served as AFP General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command head in 2013. He previously served in different capacities in the 3rd Army Training Group, 7th Regional Community Defense Unit, Combat Arms School (CAS), Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Philippine Army, and the Joint Task Force, National Capital Region before becoming the Battalion Commander of the 15th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in the Visayas. He formerly held the position as 802nd Infantry Brigade commander, 8th Infantry Division. As brigade commander, Bonafos was responsible for the declaration of Southern Leyte as an insurgent-free province. During his incumbency, Leyte became manageable and development ready area.

During this time, Bonafos and his troops were able to sustain the Provinces of Biliran, Bohol and Cebu as “insurgent-free” provinces from 2010 to 2012. Meanwhile, Vivar said AFP is aiming to make all of the three regions in the Visayas as “conflict manageable” by 2016. Vivar assumed as the new Centcom commander on August 15 this year vice Bonafos, who has been transferred to higher headquarters as vice chief of staff. Vivar, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandigan” Class of 1982, was the former commander of the Philippine Air Force 3rd Air Division based at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City. He already received numerous commendations to include the Distinguished Service Star, Presidential Medal of Merit, Bronze Cross Medals, Silver Wing Medal and the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Campaign Medals. (with a report from PNA)