A total of 300 indigenous peoples (IPs) or lumads will lead a regimented life after graduating from an eight-week basic military training course, qualifying them as members of the Philippine Army.
Ten of the graduates are women who will form part of the four military companies named Sundalo ng Mamamayan, Armado laban sa Terorismo at kriminalidad (SMART). They will operate in areas near their localities, according to the 10th Infantry Division (ID) commander Maj. Gen Noel Clement.
SMART units are capable of doing multiple roles in civil-military work. They can use force when necessary, said Clement. Among the brigades under the 10th ID are the 1001st Brigade in Compostela Valley, 1002nd in Davao Del Sur, 1003rd in Davao del Norte, and 701st in Davao Oriental.
Clement said: "These IP companies will be augmented by officers and enlisted personnel preferably IP or at least from the same province who know the customs and tradition in the area.”
Last week, the 300 IPs completed their training which started on October 17. A graduation ceremony was held Sunday at the headquarters of the 10th ID in Barangay Tuboran, Mawab, Compostela Valley Province.
Clement hopes the IPs will be part of nation-building with the goal of achieving peace and sustainable development not only in their communities but within the area under the 10th ID.
According to Clement, the 10th ID is lucky to be one of the recipients in the Philippine Army’s recruitment program for IPs who are prone to agitation and recruitment of the New People’s Army (NPA).
He said IPs need to know about the propaganda, deception and the motives of the communists in their Ancestral Domain.
He said the IP soldiers are the most qualified to do the task of informing the IP communities about the real motive of the communist movement. The IP Officers and Enlisted personnel know best the culture, practices, customs and traditions and the dialect.
“I advised them not to forget but keep up the culture and tradition of their tribe because they have achieved self-determination and have become model in their communities,” Clement added.
The 300 IPs were part of the 400 new recruits of the 10th Infantry Division Academy to become soldiers.
Their recruitment was made after learning that many of them wanted to join the government forces.
The Army went through the consultation process because they cannot just accept IPs without the recommendation of the tribal leaders, who know the members of their community. To give the IPs wish to become soldiers, some requirements were waived by the Army such as education level, age, and the civil registry documents.
The lumads, however, were required to undergo the medical examination.
All the new recruits will serve as soldiers for one term (3 years) and will be given the opportunity to re-enlist for another three years if they want. But, they will have to take the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (APSAT) to qualify for another three years of service.
The IPs will serve as soldiers and they are entitled to free uniforms, accommodation, and other benefits given to a soldier.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1019164
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