Local officials in San Jose de Buan, a town historically known for communist rebel activity in Samar, have signed a document renouncing their support for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
According to the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion (IB), the signing of the affidavit of commitment during the 2025 Local Peace Engagement forum on Monday represents a powerful display of unity and dedication to achieving lasting peace. “This forum is not just an event; it’s a movement. San Jose de Buan stands firm in its mission to build resilient, insurgency-free communities through dialogue, trust, and genuine collaboration,” the army unit stated in a release on Tuesday.
Local officials from the town’s 14 villages and five sitios (sub-villages), along with youth council members and village watchmen, participated in the forum to promote the government’s peace agenda and strengthen the whole-of-nation approach against local communist armed conflict.
“My appeal to the remaining NPA members is to surrender for them to avail [of] amnesty. There’s no future if you continue to embrace the communist ideology. The local government is ready to help you,” said San Jose de Buan Vice Mayor Joaquin Elizalde in a video message shared by the 87th IB.
San Jose de Buan, a fourth-class municipality with a population of nearly 8,000, has been identified as one of the NPA’s strongholds in Samar Island due to its strategic location at the tri-boundaries of Northern, Eastern, and Western Samar provinces.
The most recent clash in the town occurred on June 9, when government forces seized five firearms from NPA rebels in Can-aponte village. Despite its historical reputation as an NPA stronghold, recent developments suggest a shift toward peace and reintegration efforts.
Government initiatives aimed at encouraging rebels to abandon armed struggle include local integration programs and housing projects for surrenderers, reflecting a commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region.