INTERFAITH DIALOGUE. Seventeen representatives from the Catholic Church, Islam, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Iglesia Filipino Independiente joined the dialogue conducted by the Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion of the Army on Friday (Feb. 28) in Barangay Noli, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. The Army has underscored the role of the religious sector in addressing the insurgency problem in the country. (Photo courtesy 3SFBn)
BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine Army underscored the role of interfaith dialogue in ending local communist armed conflicts in communities in Agusan del Sur.
On Friday (Feb. 28), the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) facilitated an interfaith dialogue among religious leaders held in Barangay Noli, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.
1 Lt. Krisjuper Andreo J. Punsalan, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of 3SFBn, told Philippine News Agency on Friday that participants to the activity discussed the role of the religious sector in the implementation of the provisions of Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the "whole-of-nation" approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflicts (ELCAC).
Punsalan said 17 representatives from the Catholic Church, Islam, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Iglesia Filipino Independiente (IFI) were present during the dialogue.
The activity was also graced by Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, the commander of 3SFBn, and Lt. Col. Sahisa Adzramen, the Islamic Chaplain of the Army's 4th Infantry Division.
“The participants were given orientation on EO 70 as a peaceful concept to end any armed conflicts in communities by focusing on peace and development interventions in conflict-affected areas,” Punsalan said.
The participants were also encouraged to participate in the process of helping former rebels through the conduct of values formation and the strengthening of spiritual dimensions to denounce violence in resolving conflicts, he added.
“The members of the religious sector were also urged to help in the promotion of family and reconciliation, and the conduct of intensified information drives among the youth to protect the religious and other faith-based organizations from the communist infiltration and recruitment,” Punsalan said.
In a statement issued on Friday, 3SFBn quoted the message of Lt. Col. Adzramen to the participants, that said: “A true religious leader who believes in God leads his followers to the path of peace and the goodness of life.”
Adzramen also asked the religious leaders present to do pro-active involvements in different activities in their communities that are designed to bring peace and development among the residents.
In his message to the religious leaders, Lt. Col. Baybayan pressed the promotion of reconciliation to end the armed conflicts and prevent the loss of lives.
“We hope that you could help us promote peace and reconciliation to induce more peaceful surrenders. The country has already suffered enough and as the President (Rodrigo R. Duterte) said, we cannot afford to pass this communist armed conflict to the next generations,” Baybayan said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095211
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