280 lumads take oath as candidate soldiers

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 17): 280 lumads take oath as candidate soldiers

A total of 280 members of Indigenous People (IP) communities in Davao Region took their oath as candidate soldiers of 10th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army.

In a ceremony Tuesday at the 10th ID Headquarters in Mawab Compostela Valley, members of different tribes vowed to defend the Constitution and the country against the lawless elements.

10th ID assistant commander Brig. General Bienvenido Datuin said the IP soldiers would get the same salary, allowances and other benefits granted to regular soldiers.

"When they graduate, the same benefits and privileges will be given and they are also given the same serial number," Datuin said.

He said these IP soldiers were chosen by different Brigade commanders in the region.

Among the Brigades under 10th ID are 1001st Brigade in Compostela Valley, 1002nd in Davao Del Sur, 1003rd in Davao del Norte and 701st in Davao Oriental.

"We are making sure that all of the Brigades are well represented," Datuin said.

He said these soldiers would also be given the same training like the regular soldiers which would last for eight weeks.

"The training will be focusing on how to execute our campaign plan; community support program, respect for human rights and we will make sure that it will be people centered and developmental in nature, " Datuin said.

He emphasized that the 10th ID took a lot of IP to become soldiers of the country because it is important for them involved the tribes in the community in terms of nation building.

"My experience as 28th IB (Infantry Battalion) as well as 701st Brigade, I've been so long in these areas, it is important that we have to involve brothers and sisters in the tribe," he said.

Datuin added that according to the tribal leaders within the area of 10th ID, the move of the division might be the solution to everything end insurgency.

"You get the people involved, it’s a collective responsibility," he said.

Datuin hopes that there will be more batches to come that will help them in their campaign.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1013003