LGU leads in internal security initiatives in Comval town

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 17): LGU leads in internal security initiatives in Comval town

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley -– The local government unit (LGU) here vowed to stand for peace following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the hand-over of the Internal Security Effort aimed at ensuring peace and development in the town.

“For so long, Nabunturan suffered the stigma brought about by the perception that it is infested with communist terrorists. That perception ends now. Today, we, the representatives of the people of Nabunturan make a stand for our children and their children’s sake,” said Councilor Dennis O. Bugas, the Chair of the Committee on Peace and Order in the Sangguniang Bayan of Nabuntural.

By assuming the lead role, the local government of Nabunturan pledges to ensure that community development efforts and people empowerment activities shall be conducted by the members of the council within their respective concerns.

The handover of the ISE lead role also implies the continuing collaboration of the AFP, PNP, LGU and other stakeholders in Peace and Development effort. As such, government troops will remain and will be strategically deployed so as to provide appropriate security forces when necessary.

Among those who witnessed the signing of the MOU were the Local Government Officials of Nabunturan headed by Hon. Mayor Romeo C. Clarin, Hon. Vice Mayor Mario Angelo M. Sotto and ABC President Hon. Edilberto Miñoza.

The military was represented M/Gen. Eduardo Ano, commander of the 10th Infantry Division Philippine Army, Col. Casiano Monilla, Commander of the 1001st Brigade and P/SSUPT Abraham Rojas, Police Provincial Director of ComVal.

Ano lauded the collaborative efforts of the LGU Nabunturan and the 66th Infantry Battalion for making the hand-over a reality.

He also enjoined the LGU to protect these gains and bring it to a higher level.

“With the internal security mechanism in place, this municipality will be less vulnerable and more able to weather any security disturbance that may come its way,” Ano said.

The assumption of ISE lead role by the local government of Nabunturan is the first in Comval Province, an area known to be a hotbed of the communist insurgency.

According Ano, being the capital town of the province, Nabunturan sends a beacon of hope to other municipalities that through the spirit of “bayanihan”, a just and lasting peace can be achieved.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=685194