SAN ISIDRO, Davao del Norte, Mar. 06 (PIA): Top level official of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade and local government executives of Davao del Norte called on barangay officials of Igangon to help work for the return of rebels to the folds of the law.
“Let’s help them live normal lives,” 1003rd commmanding officer, Col. Lysander Suerte told local officials of Brgy. Igangon in San Isidro where the provincial government of Davao del Norte and the 1003rd Infantry Brigade recently brought the Peace and Development Convergence caravan of services.
He also asked barangay officials to get in touch with families of rebels, and ask them to convince their relatives to leave behind their work with the NPA.
“Let them realize na pwede sila bumaba,” he told barangay officials.
Suerte revealed the military presence in Igangon and in its nearby areas but the mission is not to harm those keeping alliance with the NPA but to persuade them to be with the government.
“Hinahabol natin sila para makababa. (We are pursuing them to come down),” he said.
Suerte bared that Igangon and six other nearby barangays in the municipalities of New Corella in Davao del Norte, and Laak in Compostela Valley, are areas where the New People’s Army (NPA) get a “very significant number” of their members spread in various rebel commands in nearby provinces.
Igangon lies 25 kilometers away from Tagum City which is the capital town of Davao del Norte. It can be reached from Tagum passing through the rugged national road along Asuncion. Igangon is at periphery of Compostela Valley province.
Still not completely nuetralized, Igangon is classified by Suerte as NPA influenced area where families of some NPA members are staying.
He however, refrained from divulging the number of families with NPA members, saying immersion activity is still going on, and that he needs further details from the ground.
“That’s why we brought the Convergence to Igangon with government services to show them that it’s good to come down,” he said.
The Convergence for Peace and Development is a joint effort of the provincial government of Davao del Norte and the 1003rd IB. It is designed after the Peace and Development Program (PDOP) of the 10th Infantry Division which it has rolled out since last year in its intension to bring government services to areas with peace and order concerns. (10)3rd IB is under the 10th ID)
On the other hand, provincial Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio on the same occasion urged rebel members to put down their arms, and take on farm paraphernelia, instead.
“Ilabay ng mga armas (Throw away your arms.) We don’t need that. What we need are tools for agriculture,” he said in a dialogue with Igangon Barangay leaders during the Convergence.
He also held barangay officials “accountable” in securing their barangay, and told them that they could do something to address insurgency.
Igangon Barangay Captain Federico C. Juan admitted that insurgency is among the number of concerns in his barangay but he did not give his response to calls of Suerte and Suaybaguio.
He instead enumerated a number of priority projects of his barangay. Among those were the completion of the barangay terminal, farm-to-market road, electrification, water system, land titling, construction of mini gymnasium; and the construction of perimeter fence, and Home Economics building.
On behalf of Provincial Gov. Rodolfo P. Del Rosario, Suaybaguio assured barangay officials that the provincial government would provide them their needs, in addition to what the 1st District Congressional Office can provide. (PIA 11/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
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