BANGUED, Abra – The government’s initiatives to win back Tubo town from communist rebel influence has started to succeed.
Community elders, leaders, and the youth gathered over the weekend virtually “turned their backs” against the rebel movement and opened up to government’s peace and development initiatives, according to Abra Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos.
Abra Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos (Abra Ppo / MANILA BULLETIN)
Tubo, especially its hinterland and far-flung villages, had been considered a rebel stronghold since the 70s.
“(It) is the first time that communities welcomed the idea of ‘not supporting’ the NPA,” Bernos said. “It is a big improvement.”
The Philippine Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion gathered “panglakayens and mananakems” (elders and wisdom-bearers in indigenous communities) for the “Elder’s Forum” so government could lend an ear to their issues and concerns.
Since 2016, the military has convinced at least eight alleged New People’s Army (NPA) regulars and 13 NPA armed auxiliaries (Militia ng Bayan) to leave the rebel fold.
Simultaneously, 87 youth leaders from the 10 villages in Tubo came together for a two-day Youth Leadership Summit “enhancing the leadership qualities of the youth, promoting camaraderie, expanding their role in nation building, promoting awareness on deceiving issues and activities of lawless groups and organizations and enhancing their potentials as active responders to calamities”.
Army Lt. Col Jearie Boy Faminial, 24IB commander, said if not for the active involvement of Tubo Mayor Guilbert Ballangan, the coming together of the elders and the youth could not have been possible.
“Kasi dati, mas gusto nila na walang military doon,” added Bernos. “Isa lang ang gusto natin output, ang matahimik ang probinsya.”
Government forces are engaging all sectors “because they are the ones we are serving,” 7th Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Lenard Agustin said, while explaining that “they are the prospected targets of rebel groups so we better equip them against the deception and lies of the rebel groups.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/13/govt-peace-efforts-paying-off-in-abra/
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