By Susil D. Ragas
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, July 29 (PIA) -- Officials from the
Philippine National Office (PNP) Caraga Regional Office recently led the
turnover and blessing of the newly-constructed Police Municipal Police Station
in Basilisa town, this province.
The PNP officials who attended the said activity and also conducted an
inspection of the operational readiness of the Dinagat Islands Police
Provincial Office was led by Police Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr.
and Dinagat Islands Police Provincial Office Officer-in-Charge Police Colonel
Rogelio Z. Raymundo, Jr.
BGen. Esquivel, in his message, urged the Dinagat police force to get
the job well done especially during this time of the pandemic.
“If you cannot go over, go under. If you cannot get to the right, go to
the left. If not, perforate. But the most important thing is to get the job
done,“ Esquivel said.
During the said activity, strict observance of the minimum public health
standards and the safety protocols as they enter the province, such as vehicle
disinfection and mandatory thermal scanning for every individual, were also
observed. (PNP-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Top NPA terrorist
leader in Caraga dead after failed attack
By Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan
One other male cadaver was also found on the encounter site and is still
subject to verification after being left behind by their fleeing comrades.
Two AK 47 rifles, ammunitions, anti-personnel mines, bomb-making
materials, one portable generator, assorted medical supplies, laptops,
cellphones, and handheld radio were also recovered by the troops of the 3rd
Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion.
Brigadier General Allan Hambala, 401st Brigade commander said, “we have
intensified our security operations in the said area after receiving successive
reports from the IP communities that the large groups of CNT are intruding
inside their ancestral domains and threatening them. The CNTs had already
mercilessly murdered four innocent tribe members since July 6, 2020."
"NPAs even planned on burning down the newly built DepEd's IP
School at Sitio Simuwao. These vicious plans and terroristic actions of the
terrorist NPAs must be stopped," added Gen. Hambala.
On the other hand, Lianga and San Miguel IP Mandatory representatives
Datu Jumar S. Bucales and Datu Rico Maca lambasted Save our Schools Caraga and
Sinag, believed to be CNT-linked front organizations for spreading fake news
against the ongoing military operations to run after the terrorists. (CMO-3SFBn/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
Gov’t troops, IPs,
FRs to undergo TESDA skills training
By Robert E. Roperos
According to Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva, the training is planned
to be conducted in August where each patrol base under the area of
responsibility of the 29th IB will send three participants: a soldier or a
CAFGU member, IPs and FRs.
“The battalion is composed of 12 patrol base, so we have to expect 36
participants who will undergo training by next month,” Dir. Cueva said.
The participants will be trained in organic vegetable and native chicken
production that will run for three days. Right after the training, Cueva added
TESDA will provide seedlings for them to plant vegetables and create demo farms
in their respective areas, as well as poultries for the native chickens.
After a month, TESDA together with the 29th IB will inspect and assess
the demo farms of each patrol base. Those who have made the best demo farm will
receive an award. The participants who have finished the training are required
to undergo trainer’s training so that when they go back to their respective
areas, they will train other members of the community.
In a related development, TESDA-Agusan del Norte have committed to train
the existing former rebels (FRs) that are now under the battalion’s custody in
Food Processing, Entrepreneurship, and Tilapia production for which trainers of
the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) through the leadership of Mr.
Romel M. Natad, Vocational School Administrator II will be the training
provider.
Aside from this, Dir. Cueva said TESDA will also help develop the
existing demo farms created by the FRs to be learning sites of the Agricultural
Training Institute (ATI).
This move of Dir. Cueva supports the agency’s slogan “TESDA Abot Lahat”
which is one of the flagship programs of TESDA Sec. Isidro S. LapeΓ±a in support
to EO 70 institutionalizing a whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive
and sustainable peace. (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
DA Caraga turns over
33 heads of breeding gilts to swine raisers
By Fretcher Magatao
BUTUAN CITY, July 29 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga headed
by Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo turns over the 33 heads of
breeding gilts to Caraga Swine Raisers Incorporated (CARSI).
The breeding gilts amounting to P1.1 million would serve as additional
breeder stock or parent stock under DA's hog restocking program.
“We need to secure a steady supply of pork in the region and this
response from the government is a good solution to it,” said Director
Monteagudo.
According to Livestock Program Coordinator Jekem Sanchez, the
association will equally distribute these hogs to its members in the different
provinces of Caraga.
“This is DA’s initiative in the region to boost local pork supply even
at the threat of the African Swine Fever (ASF) The region remains free at the
moment and we are doing every possible measure to stay free from the disease as
we aim to increase our swine population in the region,” Sanchez said.
Working in partnership with organized swine raisers in the region such
as the CARSI, the DA is ready to provide the needed intervention to further
strengthen the industry.
“This intervention given to us would enable us to produce more quality
hogs which we can extend to all our members,” said CARSI President Lodela
Antonio.
CARSI is an association of hog raisers all over Caraga with the
objective of producing quality hogs and maintaining the sufficient supply of pork
in the region. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
12 former rebels
commit as peace, dev’t advocates
By Maj. Francisco P. Garello, Jr.
The 12 FRs who have recently surrendered to the OPCON Battalions (23IB,
26IB and 58IB) of 402nd Brigade were selected to undergo the said training to
encourage them to assist the government in its peace and development
initiatives and contribute in the capitulation of ideological belief of their
comrades that will hopefully transform their outlooks towards peace.
Their narratives and testimonies may also enlighten the youths
especially the student sector and young professionals to be wary of the
recruitment schemes of the CTG.
In his message during the opening program, Col. Cerilo C. Balaoro, Jr,
deputy brigade commander of the 402nd Brigade, encouraged the FRs in their journey
towards transformation and their reintegration back to the mainstream society.
He stressed the importance of the FRs who will volunteer as 3rd party
advocates in enticing remaining communist terrorist group (CTG) members to
surrender and become a living testimony of the government’s program for former
rebels under the Enhanced - Comprehensive Local Integration Program
(E-CLIP) and its initiatives to address the pressing concerns that caused
the insurgency problem.
The deradicalization program is part of the E-CLIP process and a
critical component of reintegration of the former rebels back to their
communities. It redirects them from their deceptive views and delegitimize the
CNT rhetorics and tactics in order to complete their transformation that will lead
them to leave the path of violence and false indoctrination.
One of the highlights during the training was the psycho-social moral
recovery session wherein the FRs conducted personal reflection and deepening of
commitment.
To cap the activity, the FRs have expressed their support; accepted
their past mistakes and start a new life with their acceptance; and commitment
to become peace advocates.
The training was culminated with a closing ceremony attended by
Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, 402nd Infantry Brigade commander, as the
keynote speaker.
BGen. Licudine emphasized the importance of the deradicalization
training and expressed his gratitude to the FRs for the willingness and
commitment they demonstrated during the training.
“I am really glad that all of you here are able to join the training and
actively participated in the activities. This only proves that you shun
involvement from CTG and wholeheartedly accepted and decided to support the
government this time,” said BGen. Licudine.
He also said that FRs are the most credible person to convey the message
of hope and to encourage the remaining CTG members to surrender and reconcile
with the government.
“Kami isip parte sa kasundaluhan, mitoo kami nga dili pinaagi sa
armadong pakigbisog ang solusyon arun masulbad ang atung problema karun. Busa
sa inyung pagka intresado sa boluntaryong pagtabang sa atung gobyerno, kauban
na kamo sa tahas nga magpahilona sa hunahuna sa inyung kanhing kauban nga ang
gobyreno mutabang kanila ug naningkamot nga ayohon ang kinabuhi sa matag-usa
kanato og hinay-hinay nga ibalik sa sakto nga kinabuhi ang atung mga kauban nga
nagsurender og mutahod na sa atung bandila, sa atung gobyerno, ug sa atung
konstitusyon,” BGen. Licudine said. (CMO Officer 402nd Infantry (Stingers)
Brigade/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
PNP chief commends
PNP-13 for KAPA founder arrest
By PMaj. Renel E. Serrano
BUTUAN CITY, July 29 -- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General
Archie Francisco F. Gamboa commended the troops of Police Regional Office (PRO)
13 following the arrest of KAPA-Community Ministry International founder and
president Joel A. Apolinario along with 25 others in the hinterland of Lingig
town, Surigao del Sur on July 21.
During the recent virtual press conference, General Gamboa lauded the
joint operation of the PRO13 Regional Special Operation Group, National
Intelligence Coordinating Agency 10, 1st Special Action Battalion of the PNP
Special Action Force, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13, Surigao del Sur
Provincial Mobile Force Company, Lingig Municipal Police Station, 67th Infantry
Battalion of the Philippine Army, and Philippine Coast Guard in Barangay
Salvacion.
The operation was based on the strength of search warrant for violations
of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and
Ammunition and R.A. No. 9516 or Illegal Possession of Explosive issued by
Atty. Catalina Shineta M. Tare-Palacio, presiding judge of the Regional Trial
Court (RTC), 11th Judicial Region, Branch 41 in Cantilan, Surigao del
Sur.
The operatives also executed the warrant of arrest issued by Atty. Gil
G. Bollozos, presiding judge, 10th Judicial Region, RTC, Branch 21, Cagayan de
Oro City against Apolinario for syndicated estafa.
“A gunfight ensued when the operating troops were fired upon by the
members of Apolinario’s armed men. Two of his men, namely Allan Binongo and
Denize Dialoding died while Melecio Siano was seriously wounded,” PNP Caraga
regional director Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr said.
Authorities confiscated several high powered firearms. These include the
30 units of M16 rifle; two units of M4 rifles; one garand rifle; four 7.62mm,
M60 light machineguns; one caliber 50 sniper rifle; three caliber 22 rifles;
one carbine; one shotgun; two RPG rifles; five caliber 45 pistols; two rocket
propelled grenade; and several rounds of live ammunition of different caliber.
The suspects will also be charged for violations of the R.A. No. 10591
(Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition), R.A. No. 9516 (Illegal Possession
of Explosive), Article 148 of the Revised Penal Code (Direct Assault), and
Article 147 of the RPC (Illegal Association).
According to BGen. Esquivel, the intelligence monitoring team had
started to track down the whereabouts of the subject since January of this year
upon receipt of a report that he bought a private resort in an isolated place
in Lingig town.
“We believe that justice will soon be served to the victims of the KAPA.
This operation shall serve as stern warning to all not to organize, entice or
involve in Ponzi scheme. We will ensure the full swing of operations to stop
similar Ponzi schemes and other pyramiding investment propositions that may
proliferate in the region,” said BGen. Esquivel.
In his statement during the press briefing, Gen. Gamboa said that
operating troops involved in the said police operation will be given
appropriate awards and recognition, meritorious promotion and monetary reward
for their significant accomplishment.
Meanwhile, BGen. Jimili L Macaraeg, deputy regional director for
administration and chairman of the PRO13 Promotion Board also supported the
statement of the PNP chief and stated that processing of the needed documentary
requirements for the said promotion will commence immediately. (PIO,
PRO13/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
