Army brigade in Surigao warns public on CTG’s recruitment
By
Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 26 (PIA) -- Brigadier General George Banzon,
commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, forewarned that those who exhorted
individuals to join the communist rebel movement are also the ones who will
abandon their comrades when wounded in an encounter with the authorities.
On the
other hand, BGen Banzon bared their efforts in urging the New People’s Army
(NPA) rebels to surrender through their “Lomon Ko, Salbaron Ko” program.
“We
have been reaching out to relatives of the armed elements, kinakausap namin
‘yung nanay at kapatid. Through them, sana makumbinsi sila (armed
elements/rebels) at maliwanagan ang isipan na we are not closing the doors for
them to have a new life,” he said.
BGen.
Banzon added that the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army
(CPP-NPA) had brought a degree of anxiety among the locals and to some of the
business owners and those holding an elected seat in the local government in
particular.
“Nandiyan
‘yung takot. Iisa lang ang sanction na ibinibigay ng mga NPA to those who are
showing resistance – kamatayan (death),” he
said.
Talking
on peace and order situation in Surigao del Norte and their other areas of
responsibility from a Philippine Army perspective, BGen. Banzon, bared that one
of their line of operations is how to address the resource generation
activities of Guerilla Front 16 that is financially supporting the whole
Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee Guerilla Fronts.
“The
secretary of this guerilla front is a Surigaonon and from the municipality of
Sison. He is Rolando Rubilla Leyson, Jr. popularly known as “Edroy,” “Pedyo” or
“Jun-Jun” to his peers and acquaintances," said BGen. Banzon.
He also
revealed that Rolando’s wife is also the finance officer of the same Guerilla
Front. “So, kung titingnan natin, ‘yung gumagalaw na NPA dito sa probinsiya ng
Surigao del Norte ay mag-asawa ang nagpapatakbo,” BGen. Banzon said.
The army
troops are concentrating their efforts and military resources against the
weaker insurgents.
“If we
figure it out, the armed elements are dwindling in their tactical offensive
against the government troops. The primary reason why they are still thriving
is because of their extortion activities,” underscored BGen. Banzon.
Meanwhile,
Mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia of Sison town is very optimistic that the whole-of-nation
approach to resolve decades of insurgency is ushering the nation to achieving
lasting peace and development.
“We can
defeat the CPP-NPA-NDF with the help of our uniformed personnel of the
Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police. Especially, with Executive
Order No. 70 of President Rodrigo together with Anti-terrorism Act,” said Mayor
Paronia.
“Hiling
namin ay sana mapondohan na ‘yung hinihingi ng PNP. Sigurado, maso-solve ang
insurgency ng Sison, especially the security and the peace and order at
mapanatag na rin ‘yung mga tao dito,” she said. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Passengers, buses
stranded at Surigao port as PCG suspends sea travel
By
Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 26 (PIA) -- More than 800 travelers and 300 cargo
trucks, passenger bus, and private vehicles bound to Liloan and Benit, Southern
Leyte were stranded in Surigao City after the Philippine Coast Guard – Surigao
del Norte enforced a suspension of all sea trips due to tropical storm “Auring”
on Friday.
This
compelled them to halt and park outside the port of Lipata in this city. The
stranded cargo trucks were loaded with several fruits, vegetables, hogs, and
other goods from Davao, Cagayan, and other parts of Mindanao heading for
Visayas and Luzon.
Raffy
Caparida, driver of the 10-wheeler wing van, was stranded for four days.
“Dahil
po sa sama ng panahon kaya na stranded kami,” said Caparida.
The
stranded passengers were thankful for the ‘arrroz caldo’ and bread provided by
the concerned barangay and Philippine Ports Authority.
Uncertain
of how long they would get stuck from being stranded, some of them have decided
to sell some of their goods with a slashed price.
Ariel
Esquillo, an entrepreneur from Davao, also sold the bananas that he bought
rather than be ripened and wasted prior his arrival to his destination in
Legazpi, Albay.
“May
karga kaming mga saging. Ibinenta na lang namin dahil baka masira na,” said
Esquillo.
According
to Port Management Office manager Froilan Caturla, as of 6:00 a.m. of Feb. 22,
2021, there were more or less 361 various rolling cargoes that were queueing
along Nautical Highway in Lipata area.
“There
were also more or less 856 stranded passengers most of them were accommodated
and designated in various evacuation centers. Others were also staying at the
hotel and some preferred to stay in their respective vehicles,” Caturla said.
The no
sail policy of all types of watercrafts plying Siargao and Dinagat islands was
then lifted as soon as the PAGASA cleared the region from the storm signals.
(VLG/SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Surigao Norte IPs avail health services, receive school equipment
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 26 -- The Indigenous Peoples of the Mamanwa Tribe
in Sitio Landing, Brgy. Camam-onan of this province received services from the
different partner stakeholders and government agencies during a community
outreach program conducted recently.
The
activity was anchored on the theme, “Kalinga Alay sa Katutubo.”
It was
highlighted by giving of food packs, basic commodities, school supplies and
equipment, and basic services such as legal and medical services that benefited
the four tribal clans of Mamanwa.
The IPs
of Sitio Landing were chosen by the Community Support Program Team of 30th
Infantry Battalion (30IB), which was previously identified as Geographically
Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), wherein most of the dwellers were
susceptible to NPA terrorists’ deception, abuses, and intimidations.
Lieutenant
Colonel Ryan Charles G. Callanta, the commanding officer of 30IB, said that the
same efforts will be continued to other parts of their area of operations where
IP communities are present.
“I am personally grateful that despite the overwhelming challenges posed by this COVID-19 pandemic there are still private stakeholders and government agencies who are willing to toe the line just to provide the basic needs of our IP brothers and sisters. A very significant effort in demonstrating the government’s simple and truthful peacebuilding initiatives within the IP ancestral domains,” said Callanta. (30IB, Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
