Army commanders in Caraga discuss peace efforts
with SurSur guv
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 18 – The commanders
of the 401st and 402nd Infantry Brigades of the Philippine Army covering the
province of Surigao del Sur paid courtesy call to Governor Alexander Pimentel
and discussed the current peace and order situation, and security and
development efforts held recently at the provincial capitol, this city.
Colonel Allan Hambala and Colonel Maurito Licudine,
Brigade Commanders of 401st and 402nd Brigade, respectively, together with the
Battalion Commanders of 75th Infantry Battalion (IB), 36IB and 3rd Special
Forces Battalion paid visit to the newly-installed chief executive of the
province to formally introduce themselves and update the governor on the
security and development efforts being undertaken by the Army units on the
ground.
Surigao del Sur is one of the eight provinces covered
by the Army’s 4th Infantry Diamond Division based in Camp Edilberto
Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.
The two cities and 17 municipalities of the province
are further geographically subdivided by three infantry battalions which
confront the terrorist groups of the New People’s Army.
According to Colonel Hambala, the visit was just the
start of a frequent engagement between the Provincial Government of Surigao del
Sur and the 401st Brigade, as the unit covers Bislig City and the seven
municipalities of Surigao del Sur.
“With the implementation of Executive Order 70 in the
region, Surigao del Sur, which has 12 municipalities identified as the Peace
and Development Zones (PDZ), must fully take advantage of the opportunities
that will be brought by this initiative,” Hambala said.
“With a strong political will and continuous commitment
of our new local chief executives in Sursur spearheaded by Governor Pimentel, I
am very sure that the localized implementation of EO 70 will become effective
and successful in the whole province,” Hambala added. (26IB/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
20 FRs, supporters surrender in SurSur town
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
Lt. Jonald Romorosa, Civil-Military Operations Officer
of the 36IB, said the surrenderers were composed of eight regular members, one
courier, two organizers, one medic, one collector, and seven contact members,
all residents of Carmen town.
During the interrogation, the FRs and NPA supporters
have pledged their sincere commitment to go back to the fold of the government
and vowed to withdraw their support from the NPA terrorist.
"For the longest time, we thought that the NPA
will help us. But, we were just deceived, we were made to believe that
supporting the terrorist NPA will improve our lives. We thanked the Army CSP
for opening our eyes on the deceptions and lies of the CPP-NPA-NDF
organizations," said one of the surrenderers.
 |
Carmen Mayor Jane Valeroso-Plaza delivers her message
during the mass surrender of 20 former rebels and supporters in Carmen, Surigao
del Sur. (Photo: 36IB, Philippine Army)
|
Mayor Plaza stressed that the people of Carmen are
already awakened of the NPA's deception.
"The pledge of allegiance manifests the
peace-loving Carmenanon’s withdrawal of support and rejection of the NPA
terrorists from the communities," Mayor Plaza added.
The 20 FRs will be processed and validated for their
enrollment to the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a
government intervention package for former rebels. (with a report from
36IB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
