Top army official lauds local peace initiatives

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Mar 19): Top army official lauds local peace initiatives

VICE Admiral Edgar Abogado, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command, lauded the efforts of the army and police in Negros Occidental and encouraged everyone to continue with the very good initiatives.

Abogado visited the Brown Eagle Troopers at Headquarters 303rd Infantry Brigade on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia.

Colonel Oscar Lactao, Commander of 303rd Brigade, welcomed Abogado in traditional military arrival honors together with the Brigade staff and commanding officers of the AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) units in Negros Occidental.

In his talk with the men and women of the Brigade, Vice Admiral Abogado emphasized on the AFP’s ‘Winning the Peace’ strategy in the conduct of internal peace and security operations (IPSO).

He then presided a Command Conference, where he was provided with a briefing on the security operations being conducted in the province, the preparations for the May 2013 Elections, and an update on the multi-sectoral initiatives for the victims and families of the recent ambush-massacre of civilians in La Castellana that was perpetrated by the NPA.

He cited the organization of the Provincial Peace, Integration and Development Unit (ProPIDU) which undertakes the 5-Year Peace and Development Project (5YPDP) and the latest formation of the Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) in La Castellana as very good models of “Bayanihan”, an approach that is currently being undertaken by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The primary objective of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan is to ‘Win the Peace’ through a people-centered security strategy that is founded on broad-based consultations and engagements with key stakeholders.

Beyond its goal of diminishing the armed capability of the NPAs and other treat groups through its focused military operations, the 303rd Brigade will continue to support and assist the local government, line government agencies and non-government organizations in working together for a just, humane and compassionate society by addressing the social, economic and political concerns of the people and communities in the province of Negros Occidental.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2013/03/19/top-army-official-lauds-local-peace-initiatives-273693