CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – Forty two youth leaders completed the 2-day 7th Regional Youth Leadership Summit (RYLS) conducted by the 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division here last October 5.
The participants are composed of 24 females and 18 males ages 15 to 25 years old coming from the different provinces of Southern Tagalog.
The summit seeks to transform the youth into “peace builders” and “catalysts for development” while enhancing their awareness in order to insulate them from NPA and other lawless elements’ deceptions and recruitment.
Ms Maricar A Palacol, the Provincial Peace and Order Officer of Laguna Province, graced the Opening Ceremony of the RYLS and lauded the Jungle Fighters for “continously supporting the young generation by instilling the spirit of patriotism, nationalism and social responsibility.”
Ms Palacol categorically stated the Local Government of Laguna’s pledge and commitment to untiringly support youth programs that will contribute toward peace and development of the province as well as the entire country.
She emphasized that “the youth plays an integral part in the society. They need to be armored with enthusiasm and courage to become great leaders of our country.”
During their stay at the home of the Jungle Fighters, the participants were mentored by prominent resource speakers from different agencies of the Local Government as well as from private sector in line with the objectives of RYLS.
In her talk, Ms Relissa S Lucena of the group #HandsOffOurChildren, shared the awful experiences of mothers whose sons and daughters were recruited by the NPAs.
“Theirs was a heartbreaking story which no parent ever deserve”, said one of the participants.
Aside from educating the youth against NPA deceptions, the activity became a venue for the future leaders to develop a link with the provincial government and have a better understanding in how they can participate in governance upon their return to their respective localities.
The participants were also inspired by Al Jazeera Correspondent Jamela Alindogan after she shared her experiences as well as the determined steps which she took to overcome life’s challenges.
She called on the youth participants to “go outside of yourself, do something for our country” as she reminded them to be good in their quest to serve because “nothing is worth more than dignity.”
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr, Commander of 2ID, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of “this noble undertaking because what we are about to do is to insulate our future leaders from the NPA terrorists as well as other lawless elements and empower them to become the best leaders which our beloved motherland and countrymen truly deserve.”
He added that 2ID will continue to spearhead awareness to educate the people in order to “build the youth for our country’s future.”
“We will continue to pursue our genuine desire to empower these young people to be active in every way they can so that they may contribute positively towards attaining our common aspirations of winning the peace which is now within our reach”, ended BGen Burgos Jr.
The participants were grateful to the facilitators and organizers “for the once in a lifetime experience and for fanning the embers of idealism and patriotism in our hearts.”
Some youth leaders were quoted as saying “we are Filipinos and we will give our all for the Filipinos.”
“The local government unit of the municipality Tuburan, headed by Mayor Khaledyassin Papandayan, played a great role in the surrender of firearms”, said Lt. Col. Ian Noel Ignes who is the commander of the 55th Infantry Battalion which maintains operational responsibility in the said municipality.
“Mayor Papandayan painstakingly negotiated with the families with the assistance of village elders, traditional leaders, imams, and ulamas to bring about a resolution to the conflict and to bring peace to their municipality”, added Ignes.
The assorted firearms surrndered consisted of one M14 and two M1 Garand rifles, one shotgun, eleven handguns, and five grenade launchers.
According to Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, acting Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, who has operational jurisdiction of Lanao del Sur, “Todays accomplishments were attributed to the peace-loving local chief executives, constituents and stakeholders of Lanao del Sur”.
“We will continuously collaborate with them to encourage other warring clans to settle their disputes and surrender their loose firearms to make their communities peaceful and secured”, added Cuerpo.
As of yesterday, four local terrorist group, including one minor, and five of their supporters surrendered and yielded firearms to two of the battalions of the 103rd Infantry Brigade.
For his part, Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, lauded the troops and the local chief executives for the successful surrender of loose firearms.
“Your 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division, in collaboration with the LGUs and other stakeholders, remains steadfast in its commitment to attain just and lasting peace in our area of operation thru our campaign against loose firearms,” said Ancan.
Division Public Affairs Office 2nd Infantry Division Philippine Army
CPT JAYROLD TERNIO
Chief, DPAO, 2ID, PA
Camp General Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal
09175047068
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. 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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https://www.kalinawnews.com/army-empowers-southern-tagalogs-future-leaders/
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