CABANGLASAN, Bukidnon (DWDD) – Troops of the 8th Infantry Battalion of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division participated in a community outreach program that is aimed at delivering basic services to the indigenous community in Brgy. Iba, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.
The activity that was facilitated by the local government unit of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon took place yesterday, March 8, 2016, around 9:00 am. Together with the troops and the LGU are medical practitioners from the Bukidnon Association of California, members of the Filipino-Canadian Medical Association, the 4th Infantry Division Dental team and several soldier barbers of the 8th Infantry Battalion.
As the activity ended around 2:00 pm yesterday, some 600 Lumads benefitted from the services, which include tooth extraction, medical consultation, giving of free medicines and free haircut service. The medical and dental mission was conducted after a series of armed clashes occurred between government troops and NPA bandits in the outskirts of the said community recently.
It can be recalled that on February 19, 2016, around 1:30 pm, NPA bandits coming from Section Committee 89 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee attempted to bomb and burn heavy equipment while setting up an ambuscade against government forces in an on going government road concreting project in KM 25, Brgy. Iba, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon. The NPA bandits however failed when responding troops took them by surprise and engaged the rebels in an armed encounter that resulted to undetermined number of casualties on the NPA’s side as they scampered to different directions.
Meantime, on February 23, 2016, around 9:00 am, another group of NPA bandits coming from the same group attempted to conduct ambuscade against the government troops who were then securing the route for an on going community outreach program in Brgy. Bulonay, Impasugong, Bukidnon. The attempt failed however when the troops engaged the bandits in a fierce firefight that lasted for about an hour that resulted to the recovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). It is believed that said IED would be used by the NPA against the convoy of the LGU and the troops who were conducting a community outreach program for the Lumads.
LTC LENNON G BABILONIA INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, commended the team for a successful activity. He also expressed his gratitude to the LGU of Cabanglasan and to the members of Bukidnon Association of California Doctors and Filipino-Canadian Medical Association for orchestrating the medical and dental mission and for having the Army participate in the undertaking. “It is indeed very much pleasing for us to be able to render our services to the people, especially to our brother Lumads. I congratulate our troops as well as the organizers of this event for holding a very successful medical and dental mission. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the LGU of Cabanglasan and to the members of the Bukidnon Association of California and the Filipino-Canadian Medical Association for supporting our operations and for allowing us to be part of the community outreach program. This undertaking is of much importance because it gives hope to our people here in Bukidnon particularly the Lumads who are most affected by the deceits of Insurgency and armed struggle. To the NPA members, it’s not too late to hope. We encourage you to go down and go back to the folds of the law. We will be most willing to help you. The government is willing to give you livelihood assistance and will even pay for your firearms under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program if you choose a new path and surrender.” says LTC BABILONIA. 8IB CMO / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/united-in-caring-ii-army-and-lgu-serves-lumads-in-bukidnon-2/
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