BANCASI, Butuan City – The 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division together with 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade in partnership with the Provincial Local Government Unit providers of Agusan del Norte urged the different construction contractors and service in Agusan del Norte to stop supporting the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). This happened during the General Orientation on the CTG Problem meeting held at the Provincial Training Center, Capitol Road, Butuan City on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
The meeting was spearheaded by Governor Dale B Corvera of Agusan del Norte in partnership with MGEN ANDRES C CENTINO, Commander of the 4th Infantry Diamond Division and the Commander of 402nd Brigade, Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine. Their objective is to stop the resource generation scheme of the CTG commonly known as “Extortion”. Also present during the meeting were Director Manuel Orduna, Regional Director of National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 13 and Mr Gerry Joey S Laurito, Agusan del Norte Provincial Administrator.
A total of twenty-five (25) contractors in Agusan del Norte responded to the call and attended the meeting. They were oriented on the CTG’s extortion schemes through the use of intimidation and threat; and other resource generation activities undertaken by them.
Last year, over 236 million pesos was reportedly generated by the CTG nationwide from their extortion activities. This amount of money came from mining; construction and politicians among others. The extortion activities of the CTG in Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region from 2019 alone was estimated to be more than 118 million pesos. This amount of money is more than enough to finance its terroristic activities in the area.
Governor Corvera said that there can be no development without peace and cited EO70 as the guiding principle to end the insurgency problem in his area. For a long time, the people think insurgency was the concern of the AFP and PNP only. Now it’s time for a change. “Everyone must understand that it is a Whole of a Nation Approach, we must get involved and help end this problem”.
Moreover, Governor Corvera in his capacity as Chairman of the Regional Development Council said that he will elevate the issue to the Regional Task Force ELCAC in order to intensify the effort to break the extortion scheme of the CNTs. He encouraged the business owners and constractors to commit and pledge not to support the CNTs and not to give in to their demands though they may experience threat and danger along the way.
Further, Major General Centino appealed to the group to help and support the government in its effort in addressing the resource generation scheme of the CTG. He explained, “The CNTs are still thriving despite the AFP’s notable success over the years because their extortion scheme was not stop. It enables them to sustain and continue their terroristic activity because they have the resources.
General Centino added that the AFP will not stop its effort to break the flow of the CTGs resource generation. Its effort will be focused on identifying those individuals and institutions that are providing and supporting this group to end this more than five-decade long insurgency problem. “We have the list of these supporters and we are urging them to stop what they are doing”.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, Commander of the 40nd Brigade in his message during the activity underscored the security package the AFP can provide to contractors and other business institutions. He said, “We mean business to end the insurgency here in Caraga Region. Let’s stop giving to this terrorist! It is time that Caraganons will be free from the bondage of fear that the CNTs had implanted to communities. Everyone must be part of this initiative. Let’s us make a strong advocacy and together end this insurgency”.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
https://www.kalinawnews.com/army-agnor-lgu-urge-business-contractors-to-stop-supporting-npas/
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