As Bohol commemorates the 8th year of being insurgent-free on Sunday, the top Army official in the province said he is ready to accept the challenge to sustain that status.
Col. Ignacio Madriaga, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, said on Friday the AFP is ready to cooperate, coordinate and be a partner to all the programs of the government in Bohol as he accepts the bigger responsibility to sustain the insurgent-free status of the province.
Madriaga lauded the leadership of Governor Edgar Chatto for sustaining the status of Bohol since it was declared insurgent-free on February 11, 2010.
Madriaga said that the 302nd IB of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is “responsible for the internal security of the island provinces of Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor” and the barangay captains have significant roles in sustaining Bohol’s status.
He said the military is the partner of the barangays and as the commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade, he will not be there to impose on the village heads but to solicit their support.
Bohol marks its 8th anniversary on Sunday with the admiration of the other provinces in the country.
In the eight years that Bohol has sustained its insurgent-free status under Gov. Chatto, unprecedented growth in the province and its tourism industry has been evident, Madriaga said.
“Bohol became famous not only for its beautiful and kind people but for its beautiful beaches as well. That’s Bohol’s distinction in the world today. And that’s not the only reason why
Bohol has become popular. Bohol has since been made as the subject of security experts because it is one of the successful case studies that totally eradicated the problem in insurgency,” Madriaga said in Tagalog.
He said Bohol is being made a model for its best practices on development for peace programs not only in the Philippines, but also in other countries.
Other provinces have also consulted the governor for advice on how Bohol succeeded in defeating the once strong armed revolution and attained the insurgenty-free status.
“So ‘yon po ang uniqueness ng Bohol (So that’s Bohol’s uniqueness). It is only here in Bohol that we have completely achieved the so-called `trinity of peace’, or the union of the government, the security forces, and the people. If the government, the people, and the security forces, continue to work hand-in-hand, Bohol will remain insurgent-free,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said the media is the additional player. They are the watchdogs who monitors if the government, the military and the police are doing their mandated tasks, he said.
He also praised the cooperation of the barangay captains in recognition of their significant roles, being the ones who are in the grassroots.
“Actually, we have achieved insurgent-free status because of the efforts of the leaders at the barangay level. The fight is actually in the barangay level and the military is only there to support them,” Madriaga said.
He added that the barangay captains are the ones who are directly in touch with the people in answering concerns on good governance, and other issues.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1024801
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