Kalinaw News: LGU, Army strengthens ties with Negros IP Leaders thru dialogue

From Kalinaw News (Aug 8, 2022): LGU, Army strengthens ties with Negros IP Leaders thru dialogue

CAMP GERONA, Murcia, Negros Occidental – The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, Municipality of Isabela, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Negros and 303rd Infantry Brigade conducted a Dialogue Meeting with the different representatives and chieftains of the Indigenous People (IP) of Negros Island to further strengthen the ties between the Philippine Army held at Isabela Covered Court, Isabela, Negros Occidental on August 06, 2022 (Saturday).

The dialogue was facilitated by LGU and NCIP of Negros Occidental and it was attended by Congressman Dino Yulo, 5th District, NOC; Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander; Lt.Colonel Van Donald Almonte, Battalion Commander, 94IB; Lt.Colonel William Pesase Jr., Battalion Commander, 62IB; Brigade and Battalion Staff Officers; Gov Lacson represented by Ms. Marie June Castro, Executive Assistant to the Governor; Ms. Milina Jutera, NCIP Negros Occidental representative; Fr June Calidgid, Director, Commission on IP, Diocese of Kabankalan; and the different IP Tribal leaders in Negros Occidental headed by Jonathan Camanso, Chair, Confederation of IP Organization in Southern Negros (Ubaye/Ati, Magahat-Bukidnon and Bukidnon Tribe).

During the dialogue, the IP leaders were given the chance to voice out their concerns with the LGUs, NCIP and the AFP and were assured that their concerns would be given attention to alleviate their plight.

BGEN Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade Commander appreciated the efforts of LGUs and NCIP in facilitating the Dialogue Meeting between the Army and IP Leaders to further harmonize the relationship of the Community Support Program (CSP) teams that were deployed to check the issues and concerns of the IP communities in Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAS). The IP Community had long been exploited by the CTGs and it is one of the efforts of the Army in Negros to ensure that this exploitation be put to stopped. He also expressed his gratitude to the IP leaders in Negros for sharing their security-related concerns.

“I admire the IP leaders because of their sincerity to uplift their community and attain a lasting peace in Negros Island. Your Army in Negros is one with the IP community in their aspiration to sustain and protect their cultural customs, tradition and heritage and to protect them from being exploited by the CPP-NPA terrorist. We need your collaboration and cooperation to further stop their deceptive and exploitive schemes. Let us work together for peace and development and to preserve our IP culture,”

[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/lgu-army-strengthens-ties-with-negros-ip-leaders-thru-dialogue/