IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon -- Troopers of the 8th Infantry “Dependable" Battalion of the Philippine Army attended the Higaonon Ritual and answered all military concerns of the IP community during the 142nd Impasugong Founding Anniversary grand opening held at the Municipal Ground on September 5, 2019.
Impasugong being the tribal capital of Bukidnon started its 142nd Foundation Day with a tribal ritual called “SINGAMPO”- a prayer in a customary way to appease the Supreme Creator for the success of the activity and for the safety of everybody. During the ritual, chieftains slaughtered two hogs and several free-range chickens as an offering to the Loving Creator and smeared the blood in their palms and forehead to include the visitors.
The 8th IB troopers assigned in the area to serve and secure the constituents were among those invited to be a part of the said ritual.
After the ritual, a program was conducted to give IP leaders a chance to speak out their concerns regarding the service of the local government unit and national line agencies. One of the concerns raised was the alleged red-tagging of tribal chieftains by their colleagues accusing them of helping the NPA-terrorists in their area and the processing of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title in claiming their ancestral domains.
Ltc. Ronald Illana, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry “Dependable" Battalion of the Philippine Army, clarifies issues on alleged red-tagging of tribal chieftains during the 142nd founding anniversary of Impasug-ong. (8th IB)“In winning the insurgency, we are counting friends, not the enemies. I am reminding the friends of the government to stop tagging others to the NPA group,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, 8IB Commanding Officer.
“If ever some of them support the terrorists, maybe they were forced to do so. They were victims of threat so we are visiting them through our Community Support Program efforts,” Illana further said.
Chieftain Benny Cumatang, IP Mandatory Representative of Impasugong meanwhile reminded his fellow IP that they are to love their community and children. "Let us live as one, avoid accusing your colleagues as supporters of NPA-terrorists unless you have concrete evidence, ” he said.
He also underscored their roles in maintaining peace and order. "We have our 8th IB and the PNP to work on the insurgency problem and the peace and order situation in our municipality, let us help them by giving information and guiding our community,” he added. (8th IB/PIA10)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1027017
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.