Tabuk City, Kalinga (10 July) -- The provincial leadership doubts the province is capable of handling its internal security operations (ISO) once it is turned over to the local government unit (LGU).

Reacting to plans of the military to turn over the ISO of the province to the LGU, Governor Jocel Baac said that the LGU is not yet capable of handling the task at hand.

He has apprehensions the LGU is not ready to accept the job since the peace and order concern of the province minus the insurgency is already a heavy burden on their part.

"This has to be evaluated first before any move to do so otherwise we will be adding burden to the problem of solving common crimes and tribal conflicts," he said. He added that the parameters used to declare an area free from the influence of insurgents has to be reviewed.

While maintaining peace and order is one of the functions of the LGU, Baac opts for a status quo where the military keeps its active role of combating insurgents while the local government provides basic services to the people.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Allen Jesse Mangaoang said the ISO of any LGU should remain a partnership between the military, police, the civil government and other stakeholders.

He cited Balbalan whose ISO was turned over to the LGU during his term as Mayor with a covenant with the barangays to address the root causes of the insurgency problem at their respective levels.

The ISOs of three municipalities - Balbalan, Pinukpuk and Tinglayan were turned over the LGUs. Tabuk City also got its ISO last June 28 this year.

The military declared these areas "liberated" claiming that the influence of the New Peoples' Army is reduced to insignificant levels and the basic reason why their ISOs is given back as a mere Police function.