Sunday, May 25, 2008
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803RD PEACEMAKER BRIGADE, PAVING THE ROAD TOWARDS “KAPAYAPAAN” |
In taking the baton of leadership of the Brigade, COL EDUARDO D DEL ROSARIO infused the concept of the four (4) major stakeholders as the key factors in the fight against insurgency. He explains that “Peace and development are inseparable and no government can improve the lives of its citizens while it continues to face internal security problems”. He stressed that the Four (4) Major Stakeholders: 1) Community dwellers– Populace;2) Political Leaders/Civic Orgs/LGAs/LGUs/NGOs/POs/Business sector/Academe/Clergy/Media; 3) Military and PNP; and 4) CPP-NPA-NDF, are the key players involved in insurgency and hence, must also be involved in resolving the country’s problems on insurgency . He emphasized that it is high time that each stakeholder play their roles towards achieving peace and development. That, the fight against insurgency is everybody’s concern.
Along this line, the Brigade conceptualized an Implan codenamed “Kapayaan” with focus on peace and development initiatives of the Brigade and its OPCON units.
 Forming part of the Implan is the conduct of massive information drives, public information campaigns and disseminations among the stakeholders. Initially, the 803rd Peacemaker Brigade had for two (2) consecutive Saturdays, on December 2 and 8, 2007, conducted symposia to the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadettes and cadets and to the students of Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) respectively at the UEP Gymnatorium dubbed as “Symposium in
Insurgency”. Film titled “Kilalanin ang Kalaban” which shows the nature and practices of the CPP/NPA/NDF and MGB’s “Recruitment of Minors” depicting the NPAs employment of child combatants were shown. University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) is considered as the breeding ground for activists and cadres. It is the seat of the Provincial White Are Committee (PWAC), Northern Samar Provincial Party Committee (NSPPC) of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC). The main objective of conducting the symposia is to preempt possible “brain washing” activities of NDF Cadres to the students. Highlight of the event was the briefing on the insurgency situation in Brigade’s AOR and the testimony of Ka Jerick on his experience as a red fighter and his eventual return to the folds of the law. About 1,700 1st and 2nd year students, cadets and cadettes attended the symposia.
Similarly, simultaneous Indignation Ralies were conducted by 20th and 63rd Infantry Battalions in the towns of Allen and Catarman, Northern Samar on December 26, 2007. Barrio folks from the 14 Barangays of San Isidro, Northern Samar and about 200 members of Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Incorporated (PGBI) and 63IB troopers held two separate rallies and condemned the CPP and its armed component , New Peoples Army (NPA), for the terroristic activities they brought to the people of Samar. They cried out that the NPA has no ideology to fight for but instead greeds for money which they carry out through extortion from the business entities and the people of Samar. For them, the Communist Terrorists has no place in Northern Samar. During the said rally, officers of the Organisasyon Laban sa Komunista (OLK) discussed the evils of communism, its effect to the community and its rotten political and godless ideology.
Samarnons as marching around town proper of Allen during the indignation rally condemning CPP atrocities.As peace is synonymous with development, SOT teams of the three (3) Opcon battalions were deployed to thirteen interior barangays of Catarman, Pambujan, Catubig, all of Northern Samar and eight (8) barangays in San Jorge and Motiong, Samar considered to be bastions of the Communist Terrorists. These teams will target the grassroots through intensive information drive and pro-active psychological operation coupled with combat and intelligence operation, in order to win back the heart and mind, trust and confidence of the people for them to denounced the ideology of communism and embrace the true government of the people. While on immersion the soldiers are touching the daily lives of the barrio folks, living and working with them, strengthening their community defense system, barangay organization and serve as the mediator in the delivery of basic social services.
The 63rd Infantry Battalion SOT team for one, has created a legacy in terms of Army Literacy Patrol System, armed with books and livelihood packages, the troops teach basic reading, writing and arithmetic to the barrio folks and in addition equip them to learn livelihood projects to compensate their income and to provide them other means of livelihood.
Likewise, the Brigade strengthens its public participation for peace building. “Insurgency Updates” are presented to the other stake holders in the local government units, agencies and Private Organization specifically to the Northern Samar Tourism Council and to the Rotary Club of Catarman.
The Brigade ,the 20th Infantry Battalion and the B Company, 52 Cadre Battalion assisted the delivery of social services during the “Medical, Surgical and Dental Mission” that was conducted from January 21 to 30, 2008. Over a thousand were provided with free medical and dental services, including medicines by a team of doctors and health workers from Colorado, USA, St Luke’s Hospital and the local doctors during the eight-day “Mission” at Allen District Hospital, in Allen, Northern Samar and at Brgy Urdaneta, Lavezares, Northern Samar.
As COL DEL ROSARIO puts it, “As we continue pursuing our role as soldiers of peace, we will offer “Laurel Leaves” to our misguided brothers to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law; live peaceful lives and become productive members of our society. As for our soldiers, we should refrain from the three mortal sins: Civilian abuse, Indiscriminate firing and illegal activities/Criminal acts. Soldiers must be a model of discipline as we often say, a disciplined soldier is the best CMO tool. As we embody our name “Peacemaker”, let us be messengers of Peace to the people of Northern Samar. After all, a missing person in the jungle always looks for his True North, to guide him to the right direction. We, Peacemakers should guide these “lost souls” towards deliverance to mainstream society.
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posted by press releases @ 12:04 PM  |
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