Kalinaw News: Residents of two Agusan del Norte remote villages join Army’s peace consultation, dialogues

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 12, 2020): Residents of two Agusan del Norte remote villages join Army’s peace consultation, dialogues

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – Residents of Culit and Jaguimitan, two far-flung barangays in the town of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte recently participated in peace and consultation dialogues conducted by the 23rd Infantry “Masigasig” Battalion last November 9 and 10 respectively.

The Army, working together with the members of the barangay councils of said barangays facilitated the two-day activity to inform the residents on the different schemes that the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) employ to manipulate, recruit and terrorize the people in remote villages in the province. The consultations also served as the venue for them to be informed on the objectives of Executive Order No. 70 issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Furthermore, the said activity allowed the residents to air their issues and concerns

During the dialogues, specific concerns were comprehensively discussed by the participants and the Army, which include the peace and order situation, the presence of the CNTs especially in the sitios, the recruitment of the CNT among the youth, and the support the residents are giving to the CNTs.

Three (3) former rebels in the person of Alias Junie, Dansoy, and Jack who, during their active days in the terrorist group, were assigned in the said barangays were also present during the activity and shared with the people their experiences, especially the hardships they had gone through.

“Sa pila ka tuig nga nakig uban me sa armadong group, daghan ang na usik nga kinabuhi sa mga katawhan hilabi na ang mga kabatan-onan. Dili mi kalimod nga musolod mi sa mga lagyong sitio sa barangay, sama sa Sitio Tagbabakon sa Barangay Culit ug sa Sitio Campo sa Barangay Jaguimitan nga mag organisa sa mga kalalakinhan, kababainhan ug mga kabatan-onan ug mang rekrot ug mga bagong myembro aron mokusog ang armadong grupo sa CPP-NPA,” Junie said.

Dansoy also gave his testimony during the dialogue, saying: “Mao nga karon nga panahon nga naa na mi sa atong gobyerno nga nitabang na sa pagkab-ot sa kalinaw ug kalamboan, kami nangayo og pasaylo kaninyo sa mga mabuhat namo nga pang abuso sa inyong katungod. Hangyoon tamo mga kaigsoonan nga ipakita nato ang atong pagsupak sa maong teroristang grupo sa NPA pinaagi sa dili pagdawat kanila ugaling mobalik sila sa atong komunidad.”

During the dialogues, residents also expressed their side, saying that fear has pushed them to provide support to the CNT. They emphasized that they were never truthful to their support to the communist group as their presence, coupled with intimidations and harassments have compelled them to follow their instructions.

The members of the barangay councils also assured the residents of their continued support to win peace and bring in developments through the different interventions of the government. Barangay Captain Joel A. Pepito of Culit thanked the troopers of 23rd IB for the security provided to the barangays that allowed the local leaders to facilitate the entry of support in terms of programs and services from the municipal and provincial governments.

Jaguimitan Barangay Captain Ireneo L. Lauro emphasized the importance of peace to reign in their barangays as a foundation for the implementation of programs and services for the people.

“Dako kaayo ang kabag-ohan ug kalamboan sa among mga barangay gumikan sa panginabuhi sa katawhan hilabi na kung dunay kalinaw nga maoy usa ka rason nga ang mga proyekto sa atong gobyerno magpadayon og sulod sa among mga barangay. Akong giawhag ang katawhan sa paghiusa sa pagsuporta sa atong gobyerno aron makab-ot nato ang malungtarong kalinaw. Kung walay kalinaw wala poy kalamboan nga moabot kanato. Suportahan nato ang mga programa ug serbisyo sa atong gobyerno ilalum sa administrasyon ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte,” Lauro said.

The two-day event was also joined by Councilor Felipe Abigan Jr., a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Nasipit who urged the residents to unite and support the plans and programs of the government.

“Ang Lokal nga pangamhanan sa Nasipit sa panguna sa atong Mayor Enrico R. Corvera naglantaw sa kaugmaon sa mga katawhan. Daghan ang mga programa sama sa panginabuhian, pag-improve sa mga kalsada, pagpatindog sa mga balay tambalanan, ug pag-improve sa mga balay tolon-anan,” Abigan said.

He asked the people of Culit and Jaguimitan to cut their ties with the CNT and work with the government to address the peace and security concerns in their barangays.

“We will work together, assist and facilitate the delivery of government programs and services. Winning the war against insurgency can only be achieved through combined efforts of the barangay residents and the line agencies of the government, Abigan said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, the commander of 23rd IB lauded the participation of the residents of the two barangays during the activity. Their participation, he said, manifested their true intent of freeing themselves from the influence of the CNT to join the government to achieve peace and development.

“The CPP-NPA has been actively working in the past fifty-two (52) years and it destroyed thousands of lives and families. With the implementation of EO70 that institutionalized the whole-of-nation approach, together, we can easily end the local communist armed conflicts in our villages,” Paulo said.

The absence of unity, he added, will further worsen the insurgency problem in Nasipit and Agusan del Norte as a whole.

“Everyone of us has an important role to play. You can help us by simply providing timely and accurate information on the CNT presence so that we can protect you against their threats. They have no right to plant fear and violence in your peaceful area. I am also really saddened to see that most of the victims are those young individuals who are tasked by the terrorists to carry food supplies at their very young age. This should be stopped while their future is not yet totally destroyed by these lawless groups,” Paulo said.







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