Gov't wins back guerilla base in AgNor town
BUENAVISTA,
Agusan del Norte – The 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23IB), Philippine
Army in partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Las Nieves, Agusan
del Norte and the Higaonon tribe participated in the inauguration of interim
barangay officials held in Sitio Bokbokon, Barangay Lawan-lawan on Friday, July
9, 2021.
The
induction was led by Mayor Avelina Rosales together with the tribal leaders of
Higaonon tribe and 23IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo.
Sitio
Bokbokon was once a guerilla base of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA)
Terrorist (CNT) but was won over by the government. It is considered vulnerable
to the exploitation and manipulation of the CNTs. For years, the IP residents
in the area have suffered from armed conflicts due to the terroristic
activities and became peaceful after the residents openly denounced and
withdraw their support to the communist movement.
Series
of immersion activities, including Serbisyo Caravans, were conducted by the
Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Agusan del Norte last March 9-10
2021 in the said Sitio. The immersion activities were made possible through the
convergence of the Province of Agusan del Norte led by Gov. Dale B Corvera, the
LGU of Las Nieves, the 23IB, and the different line agencies of the government.
The activities were aimed to make the residents of Sitio Bokbokon feel the
presence of the government including its programs and services.
Mayor
Rosales, in her message, recognized the overall performance of the 23IB and
appreciated the efforts of the military unit in addressing insurgency threats
in the province of Agusan del Norte while at the same time helping far-flung
communities by conducting civil-military operations (CMO) activities. The Las
Nieves mayor added that they have facilitated the implementation of programs
and projects in the remote areas of Las Nieves, including the construction of
farm-to-market roads. These roads, she emphasized, linked the far-flung
communities to other villages and town centers and attracted better
opportunities such as investments and livelihood programs for the people in the
area. The roads also allowed government services to reach villagers who for
years were blinded by the false propaganda of the CNTs, Rosales said.
Datu
Ronald S. Manhumosay, the IP Mandatory Representative of CADT 118 thanked the
government for the never-ending services that helped their community eradicate
the causes of communist insurgency.
“Ang pag
paningkamot nato nag bunga ug maayo. Ang pag pahiyom sang matag-usa ka myembro
naghatag sa kinatibok-an ug dakong kalamposan ug inspirasyon para magpadayon sa
atoang gi panumpaan na obligasyon para makab-ot ang kalinaw ug kalamboan sa
atoang kuminidad,” Datu Manhumosay said.
Lt. Col.
Paulo emphasized the sincerity of the government in ending the decades of
insurgency and help uplift the lives of the people in IP communities in Agusan
del Norte.
“With
everyone on board, we can make our job as protector of the community and people
easier. Let us continue to inculcate a culture of cooperation towards a
peaceful and progressive area,” he added.
He also
urged the LGU officials and the Higaonon tribe to strengthen their ties with
the unit in securing peace through sustainable development in Las Nieves and
the rest of Agusan del Norte. (2Lt. Angel Grace M. Sebelina,
CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)
