New CAA battalion can help gov’t in fight vs insurgency, army officer

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 13, 2020): New CAA battalion can help gov’t in fight vs insurgency, army officer (By Ninfa Barcena-Quirante)

BORONGAN CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) – The new CAFGU Active Auxiliary Battalion whose members are undergoing a 45-day training period will help the government in its fight against insurgency.

This is according to Lt. Col. Joven Bugarin of the 52nd Infantry Battalion based in Oras, E. Samar.

"The CAA members will function as territorial forces while the regular army will help in the clearing operations," Bugarin said during a break in the TF ELCAC meeting on October 13 at the capitol.

Lt. Col. Oliver Alvior of the 78th IB in Borongan said that 120 CAA candidates are undergoing training for 45 days.

These CAA members are being trained by the army, will be given arms after the training, while Borongan City LGU will provide the honorarium of the CAA at P6,500 per month.

The same batch will undergo a medical and neuropsychiatric examination to determine if they qualify to handle arms as they do their duty in protecting Boronganons maintain peace and order.

Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda urged the CAA candidates to be true to their mandate to help the security forces to maintain peace and order in the city.

The army officer added that another CAA battalion will be sponsored by the provincial government. (nbq/PIA E. Samar)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055917