Kalinaw News: 30 Youth Leaders Join in Leadership Executive Course in Zamboanga City

From Kalinaw News (Dec 8, 2022): 30 Youth Leaders Join in Leadership Executive Course in Zamboanga City (By Jonathan Blanco)

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – December 8, 2022

Thirty young leaders from conflict-affected areas in western and central Mindanao participated in the first-ever three-day leadership executive course, which was organized by the Western Mindanao Command’s Office of the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations and the 4th Civil Relations Group. Personnel from the Joint Task Forces ZamPeLan, Central, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Zamboanga screened the selected participants. From December 1 to 3, 2022, five young leaders were assigned to represent each joint task force at the WMC Grandstand Basement, Camp Navarro, Calarian, this city.

“This course will cultivate the participants’ potentials as they work their way to becoming leaders and active supporters of peace and development in Mindanao,” said Lt. Col. Abdurasad Sirajan, Acting Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations, during the activity’s opening program.

The Leadership Executive Course, with the theme “Breeding Good Leaders, Shielding the Youth Against Violent Extremism,” aimed to empower youth as advocates of peace and development and discourage them from participating in any terrorist acts, prevent them from ideological or physical infiltration of terrorist groups, and sustain the large network of youth leaders that has been generated over the years.

According to Col. Elmer Suderio, WestMinCom’s Chief of Unified Command Staff and the Keynote Speaker during the opening ceremony, the command is blessed to be able to execute programs that guide and develop skills, as well as recognize the critical role of youth in nation-building.

Competent subject matter experts such as Mr. Raymond Domingo of the National Youth Commission IX, Commissioner Nasserudin Dunding of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission, BARMM, Dr. Rufina Cruz of Peace Advocate Zamboanga, Zamboanga City Councilor Cary Jhon Pioc, Major Andrew Linao of the 4th Civil Relations Group, PNP-RACU9 and OU2-WMC personnel, and Ka PR, a former member of CPP-NP Aside from the knowledge gained, participants were given the opportunity to explore the Navy warship Patrol Craft 390. They also participated in a variety of recreational activities. They then displayed their God-given talents at the three-day event’s closing program.

JTF Zamboanga Commander, Col. Randolph Rojas, said in his closing message, where he was invited as the guest of honor and speaker, “It gives me pride to stand before a crowd of young people who try to make a difference in their lives by taking responsibility for an enormous role in our current drive against terrorism here in Mindanao.” You meet at a similar ground, perhaps a common goal and struggle to bring stability and free your land from strife, coming from varied cultures, religions, and tribes, born and reared in battle-torn territories. This empathy awakens your leadership potential.

For his part, Marine Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, Acting Commander of Western Mindanao Command, congratulated the facilitators on a job well done. “We feel that we must empower young and assist them in staying away from drugs and violent extremism since they are the most vulnerable segment of society. We will continue to invest in our most valuable assets, our hope for a better and more peaceful future, our next generation of leaders and experts.”

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.

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