Kalinaw News: Oath of allegiance of 5 FRs and formal induction of SLTIPDWF

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 25, 2021): Oath of allegiance of 5 FRs and formal induction of SLTIPDWF



CAMP DOWNES, Ormoc City, October 24, 2021– Five (5) FRs took their oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines before Mayor Pacita T. Almine, the Chairperson of Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF ELCAC) of Silago, Southern in a simple ceremony held at Barangay Mahayahay, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte this morning.

The oath-taking ceremony was witnessed by 156 members of the Southern Leyte Tandaya Integrated Peace and Development Workers Federation (SLTIPDWF) whose officers were formally inducted by the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF ELCAC) of Southern Leyte headed by Honorable Governor Damian G. Mercado, who was represented by Honorable Board Member Rolando Q. Bacoy.

The inducted officers of SLTIPDWF were elected by the general membership coming from the five (5) Integrated Peace and Development Workers Associations (IPDWAs) in the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Saint Bernard, and Bontoc, all of Southern Leyte. Sambayanan Eastern Visayas, 802Bde and 14IB assisted the SLTIPWDF and the PTF ELCAC in organizing the event.

The municipal local government of Saint Bernard headed by Honorable Mayor Manuel O. Calapre, assisted by the St. Bernard Municipal Police Office and the barangay local government of Mahayahay headed by Punong Barangay and Chair of the BTF-ELCAC, Hon. Benedicto G. Beloy, hosted the province-wide affair.

Likewise, the Local Government of Southern Leyte headed by Hon. Governor Damian G. Mercado, the municipalities of Silago under Hon. Mayor Pacita A. Almine, Sogod under Hon. Mayor Imelda U. Tan, Hinunangan under Hon. Mayor Sonny Fernandez, and Bontoc under Hon. Mayor Jane Ruales supported the gatherings of the province’s former rebels.

Ms. Gevelyn Aloba alias Abet, the erstwhile caretaker SLTIPDWF President, formally turned over the duties and responsibilities to the newly elected President, Mr. Rodrigo Burlaza. The SLIPDWF has a total membership of one hundred fifty-six (156) former rebels, former Yunit Militia members, Batakang Organisasyon sa Partido (BOP) members, and mass supporters.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Burlaza accepted the challenge and encouraged his fellow IPDWA members to continue supporting the programs of the government to finally put an end to the problems created by the cpp-npa-ndf that once deceived and victimized them.

In his message, Brigadier General Zosimo A. Oliveros, Commander of 802nd Infantry Brigade, pointed out the significance of the event as it strengthened the collaboration between the IPDWA and the Task Forces ELCAC. Since the creation of the IPDWAs in the five (5) municipalities, the organization has already worked and facilitated the surfacing of 26 former rebels, YMs, BOPs and members of cpp-npa-ndf mass organizations in Southern Leyte. This contributed much in the prevention of recovery efforts of the areas that were once considered as cpp-npa-ndf mass base. With the active involvement of the IPDWAs, it is expected that more and more cpp-npa-ndf regular members, yunit militias, and mass supporters will surface in the coming days, Brigadier General Oliveros added. He also assured the former rebels that the Philippine Army will work for their welfare and benefits in collaboration with Regional, Provincial, Municipal and Barangay Task Forces to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The event ended with the distribution of food packs from the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

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