Army seized NPA regional headquarters
By Cpt Jasper T Gacayan
SIBAGAT, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 11 (PIA) - The
Regional Headquarters of the New People’s Army (NPA) Northeastern Mindanao
Region was seized by Special Forces after a 30-minute running gun battle on
November 2 at 1:30 pm.
The elements of the Regional Sentro de Grabidad
(RSDG) of Communist NPA under Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command were
caught in a surprise when attacked by a platoon of the Special Forces under
Captain Elpidio B de Castro of 9th Special Forces Company, 3rd Special Forces
Battalion while encamped having a ceremony “tribute for their fallen comrade”
at So Hebron, Brgy New Tubigon, Sibagat town Agusan del Sur.
The enemy camp has estimated land area of 15,000
sq. m. with 81 bunkers made out of tent and wooden bedsteads, along with five
multi-purpose halls that serve as their kitchen and lecture room which can
accommodate 30 people. It is situated at the peak of Makalo mountain range
overlooking So Hebron of said place.
Around 80 Communist NPAs occupying the camp fled
in different direction during the attack. They also dragged their killed and
wounded comrades during their escape. After the firefight, troops were able to
recover one m16 rifle with M203 grenade launcher, one improvised grenade
launcher, one portable generator set, improvised explosive devices, two caliber
.45 pistols, 5 Icom radios, voluminous subversive documents and other war
materials.
“The Communist NPA in the provinces of Agusan del
Sur and Surigao del Sur are now gradually losing the people’s support; they are
always in a defensive mode, we will sustain our momentum to wipe them out.
However we will still give them a chance if they’ll opt to go back into the
fold of law” says Col Gregory M Cayetano, 401st Brigade Commander. (4ID,
PA/PIA-Caraga)
Local college honors LET- passer visually impaired
student
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA) - A local college here
honored one of their visually-impaired student who graduated and passed the
recent licensure examination for teachers (LET).
The Holy Child Colleges of Butuan (HCCB) President
Rodulfo P. Esteves announced in a press forum on Monday afternoon that the
college accepted the services of Ms. Fritzie Ann Binega, a 31-year old visually
impaired former student who now became a professional teacher, to be the
coordinator of the College Center for the Visually Impaired.
The forum held to honor the person with disability
(PWD) board passer was attended by Dr. Gerry Tabugon, HCCB Quality Assurance
Manager, Dr. Felomino A. Gargar, HCCB Vice President for Administration/Dean
College of Education, Dr. Joanna Cuenca, HCCB Vice President, Dr. Rodulfo P.
Esteves, HCCB President, faculty members and local media practitioners.
The honoree Binega graduated the Bachelor of
Elementary Education, Major in Special Education last school year, took the
professional regulation commission licensure examination for teachers (LET) on
August 17, this year at Cagayan de Oro City. She accordingly knew she had
passed when the result of the examination came out on October 27, 2014.
According to Dr. Estevez that he remembered that
sometimes four years ago, Binega went to his office and narrated her woes after
two local educational institutions here denied her enrollment as they
accordingly do not have special programs befitting her. “We accepted her here
at Holy Child Colleges as we have special education program for people like her
and even for those who have other impairments,” Esteves said. The college
president also said that though it was costly, they constructed a ramp from the
base of their building until the fifth floor for easy access to those students
who have physical impairments. “We did not even have a gate to be open and be
easily accessible to everybody,” Esteves said.
Dr. Gargar also said that Beniga used to be under
his classes and the student, minus her impairment shows no much difference from
the rest of his students. “She used to be assertive that at times, I have to
advice her to tone down,” said Gargar. But she had a lot of good qualities as a
student, optimistic and an achiever. According to him that she even won the
“discuss throw,” an event during an abilympic (a competition for those who have
impairments) national competition.
He also narrated that during a mock board
examination, the college prepared a reviewer in braile, and even had it
upgraded at a braile center based in Davao City just for Beniga. Only to find
out, accordingly, that during the actual LET examination, the professional
regulations commission has no braile questionnaire. The questions accordingly
were read to the examinee audibly.
With this success through Beniga, according to
Esteves they will exert more efforts to institutionalize and upgrade their
special education center and programs.
Beniga, Esteves said was a Dr. Rodulfo Esteves
awardee during her graduation. Because of that, she was given a job order right
after she graduated at the college and was given her remuneration based on the
minimum wage of a worker. But now after passing the LET examination, she will
be receiving and enjoying all the benefits, remuneration and privileges due her
as a board passer based on the professional and the labor laws, Esteves said. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)
