MATUGUINAO, June 9 -- This town was formally declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) on Monday, marking the culmination of years of government efforts to eradicate the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the area.

A declaration ceremony held at the municipal gymnasium was attended by local officials led by Mayor Aran Boller, the Army's 8th Infantry Division commander Major General Peter Burgonio, and representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Matuguinao had long been considered one of Samar's insurgency hotspots, with communist rebel influence reaching nearly all ...