STABLE PEACE AND SECURITY. Col. Glenn Joy Aynera (standing on podium), the commander of the Philippine Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade, lauded the declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security status of Agusan del Sur during the Peace and Order Council meeting on Monday (June 8, 2026). The declaration came after the dismantling of the communist New People’s Army’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee. (Photo courtesy of 401Bde)
BUTUAN CITY – The province of Agusan del Sur is under Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status, according to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).
The declaration of the SIPS status was made during the PPOC meeting in Prosperidad town on Monday, which was attended by top leaders in the area, led by Governor Santiago Cane Jr., and officials of the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other government agencies.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade (401Bde) said the SIPS status was achieved by the province mainly due to the dismantling of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the communist New People’s Army.
The 401Bde attributed NEMRC’s downfall to the relentless efforts of the Army, the PNP, and other security forces in the province.
“The declaration signifies the province’s transition toward an insurgency-free environment, opening greater opportunities for economic growth, investment, and improved public services for its people,” Col. Glenn Joy U. Aynera, acting commander of 401Bde, said in the same statement.
He added that the achievement also reflects the sacrifices and dedication of Army troopers, including fallen soldiers who offered their lives in the pursuit of peace, as well as the support of the local government units, the Indigenous Peoples, and various communities in the province.
Last week, the two units of 401Bde – the 36th Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Special Forces Battalion – together with the PNP’s 1st Special Action Battalion, facilitated the surrender of the five remaining remnants of NEMRC in an operation in Barangay Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
The surrenderers also handed over one RPK light machine gun, three M16A1 rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, one M4 Bushmaster rifle, four AK-47 magazines, various ammunition, including four 40mm high-explosive rounds, and subversive documents.
“This historic declaration reflects the effectiveness of the whole-of-nation approach in promoting peace and development,” Maj. Gen. Marion Angcao, the commander of the 4th Infantry Division, also said in the statement.
He commended the dedication of soldiers, local government leaders, partner agencies, and peace-loving citizens who collaborated to achieve SIPS status. (PNA)
