RPOC, Gingoog foster peace, security in NorMin

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 27): RPOC, Gingoog foster peace, security in NorMin

Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in region 10 and the Gingoog City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) conducted a joint meeting on August 26 in furtherance of their commitment to peace-building and development in the region.

The meeting also intends to discuss common peace and security concerns of the two councils, possibly come up with synchronized interventions that would produce better results and positively impacts the overall peace and development condition of northern Mindanao.

For the first time ever in the city’s history, Mayor Marie de Lara Guingona had called for the joint meeting between RPOC and CPOC.

The lady executive had welcomed RPOC’s chair, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno of Cagayan de Oro City who paid a courtesy visit in her office prior to the meeting and delegated RPOC’s vice-chair, Ariel Hernandez, to preside on his behalf due to his commitment in Cagayan de Oro which has been celebrating its month-long activities for the city’s fiesta celebration in honor of Saint Augustine.

Guingona said she is honored for the cooperation for the joint meeting which deliberates, presents, moves and adopts resolutions and plans for the salient aspiration of sustainable peace and order for our continued struggle for citywide development

During the meeting, Lt. Col Jose Eriel Niembra and Capt. Marzan had presented the Peace and Order Situationer which involved the Army’s fight against insurgency, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accomplishments and their continuous programs in protecting our government, its citizenry, the environment and the whole nation in general.

Major Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, 4th Infantry Division commander had emphasized that our government should continually address the economic, socio-political, judicial and cultural needs of our people as our concerted efforts in decreasing the rate of insurgents.

“Injustice is the prominent recruiter of rebellion.  Pwedeng tiisin ng tao ang gutom at hirap, pero marihap niyang tiisin ang inhustisya na kanyang naranasan,” said Lactao.

In behalf of Major Gen. Gerardo S. Barrientos, Jr. who was invited to present for the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, Col Felicisimo C Budiongan of the Mechanized Division based in Iligan City shared their challenging roles against MILF, BIFF, MNLF and other peace-hassling cum life-threatening groups milling around Lanao and Zamboanga provinces.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 presented crime rate in the region as well as solutions, strategies and recommendations. In its fight against illegal drugs, PRO-10 has its personnel who dwell in drug menace and now on their hasty way for administrative cases being filed against them.

As icon of drug-busting, Regional Director Wilkins M. Villanueva of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) presented the tremendous market of illegal drugs around the world.

Villanueva appreciated the cooperation of the Gingoog city chief executive in fishing out drug-identified pusher-users in various villages in the city.

“Huwag n’yong i-asa lahat sa amin. Magtulungan tayo. Let us change the system; let us start from the bottom to the top.  Mas marami ang nasa bottom – sila ang mga user.  Pagwalang consumer, walanang drug manufacturer,” said by the PMA graduate-director.

For Gingoognons’ issues, the lady chair had tackled the resolution for Brgy. Alagatan’s land disputes and insurgency matter.

Moreso, the council enabled to discuss and update the land issue pertaining to Sitio Sio-an’s (Brgy. Malinao) with the aid of the supervising investigator from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in region 10, Victorio O. Aleria, Jr. who serves as the chair of Task Force Sio-an.

Hernandez and Mayor Marie had both expressed their gratitude and acknowledgment to the councils’ members, guests, visitors, faith-based group, soldiers, police, media sector and other individuals who had participated and witnessed the joint endeavors that seek for genuine peace and lasting order in Northern Mindanao.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1461440665829/rpoc-gingoog-foster-peace-security-in-normin