Vigilant battalion conducts indigenous people’s confab in MisOcc

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 10): Vigilant battalion conducts indigenous people’s confab in MisOcc

The 55th Infantry (Vigilant) Battalion, Philippine Army (55IB) initiated recently a Subanen Tribal Leaders’ Peace and Development Forum, here.

The activity was part of the 55IB’s Intensified Stakeholders’ Engagement (ISE) through “Panayam sa mga Lingkod Bayan at mga Katuwang sa (Interview with Government Workers and Partners) Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan.”

During the Indigenous People’s Dialogue with the barangay officials and barangay tribal chieftain that followed, lieutenant colonel Gerry M. Besana, battalion commander of 55IB, emphasized the need to address the insurgency problem in the municipality, where they are the primary stakeholders.

“Your action is needed in order to once and for all stop the recruitment of Indigenous Peoples (IP) to join the armed struggle,” the commander of the vigilant battalion explained.

Municipal mayor Juanidy M. Viňa thanked the 55IB for initiating the forum.

The activity was hosted by the Local Government Unit (LGU), in coordination with Dodge L. Cabahug, Board Member, Indigenous People’s (IP) Mandatory Representative of Misamis Occidental and Kirby Caneros, provincial director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in the province.

Efforts of 55IB in its focused military operation paved the way for the declaration of Misamis Occidental as a “Conflict Manageable and Development Ready (CMDR) Province.

As such, the province can now intensify the collaboration of efforts for the delivery of the basic social services to the people by the appropriate government agencies and normalizes its peace and security situation and management of peace and order.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1451423537626/vigilant-battalion-conducts-indigenous-people-s-confab-in-misocc