Mayor, other local officials, peace officers, residents say La Castellana remains generally peaceful

The mayor, other local officials, peace officers and residents even of far-flung barangays said the town of La Castellana in the foot of the famous Kanlaon Volcano is generally peaceful.

This was the gist of their messages Friday during the commemoration of the massacre of eight civilians and a policeman 11 years ago in Brgy. Puso, in the municipality.

Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said that La Castellana remains generally peaceful despite occasional clashes between government forces and remnants of the New People’s Army in at least two far-flung communitues.

Nicor-Mangilimutan, who led the commemoration, said the two recent encounters in the villages of Puso and Sag-ang were just products of pro-active security measures, the very active response of law enforcers, and the collaboration of the local government and other agencies and the private sector in supporting the people.

Compared to the insurgency problem in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mangilimutan, who used to be a police officer, said their is huge improvement in the peace and order situation in the town that is now attracting more investments and tourists.

During Friday’s (Jan. 26) commemoration, Puso residents joined Mayor Nicor- Mangilimutan, 5th District Cong. Emilio Dino Yulo, representatives of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, PNP Special Action Force and the local police, in giving honors to victims and survivors of an ambush perpetrated by the NPA 11 years ago, in rites that commemorated the 11th year of the massacre, a day before the incident on Jan. 27.

The commemoration is an annual undertaking spearheaded by the local government, during which free consultations and medicines, along with other services, are also provided.

Fr. Ivan Cantor officiated a mass offered to the victims, whose families and dependents, as well barangay residents availed of services offered by the municipality, 62IB and the police.

Nicor-Mangilimutan, local police chief Maj. Sherwin Fernandez, Maj. Alenel Valles, executive officer of 62IB, called on the people to be vigilant on unidentified persons entering their respective communities, and to report to authorities.

The mayor said that all the road networks of Brgy. Puso are now concreted, and a detachment is also established in the village.* (APT)