Dauis mayor and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LPP) Marietta Sumaylo revealed that the insurgency problem in Central Visayas is the top topic discussed during the meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) that took place on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Dumaguete City.
Sumaylo made the revelation during a radio interview over Open Forum radio program aired on Thursday, May 27, 2021, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.
She added that the said concern was the topic that dominated the discussion of the said meeting, which also talked about the issues on illegal gambling, illegal quarrying, and the vaccination rollout.
The said meeting was presided by President Duterte himself, according to Sumaylo.
The insurgency problem is an issue that is impacting several areas in Central Visayas especially in Negros Oriental, which capital is Dumaguete City.
While Bohol remains insurgency-free, some suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) are seen roaming around in the province and have been creating problems in the peace and order situation here.
It can be recalled that there was a clash between suspected NPAs and government troops that occurred in barangay Cabacnitan, Bilar town on May 25, 2021.
Meanwhile, the Dauis mayor is the only mayor from Bohol who attended the said RPOC meeting that was held inside the campus of Silliman University located in downtown Dumaguete City.
Sumaylo revealed that the President Duterte asked her to join him and even had a rare photo opportunity. The mayor also bared that Gov. Arthur Yap also had an audience with Duterte where the governor raised his request to prioritize 150,000 vaccine doses that will be given to residents and workers in Panglao Island.