MAHIGIT PHP7M AYUDA PARA SA MGA FRS, IPINAMAHAGI SA AGUSAN DEL NORTE

Mahigit PhP7.3 milyong halaga ng ayuda sa ilalim ng Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) ng gobyerno ang ipinamahagi sa mahigit 100 former rebels (FRs) sa Agusan del Norte. Ang mga FRs ay tumanggap ng Sustainable Livelihood Assistance (SLP) at puhunan para sa mga asosasyon na mula sa conflict-vulnerable areas.

Isa si Marcelo Tejano na tumanggap ng SLP assistance galing sa DSWD sa tulong na rin ng lokal na pamahalaan. Balak niyang gamitin ang pera sa kanyang sakahan at sa pagpapatayo ng kanyang sariling electrical shop bilang kabuhayan kasama ang kanyang pamilya. Nakapagtapos na rin siya ng TESDA trainings na kanyang ginagamit sa kanyang pagbabagong buhay. Maliban sa SLP, 30 FRs din ang tumanggap ng tig-sampung libong piso sa ilalim ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) ng DSWD. Si alyas Mikay naman, taga Butuan, na mahigit isang taon sa kilusan bilang isang medic sa Guerilla Front 4A, ay nabigyan rin ng tulong sa ilalim ng AICS. Emosyonal niyang isinalaysay ang kanyang naranasang hirap habang siya ay nasa kilusan pa. Laking pasalamat niya dahil nakasama siya sa binigyan ng ayuda. Labing -limang asosasyon din mula sa conflictvulnerable areas ang binigyan ng puhunan, lima sa bawat bayan ng Las Nieves, Jabonga at Kitcharao sa mga nabigyan ng puhunan. Nagpaalala din si Governor Dale Corvera na gamitin nila ng maayos ang kanilang mga natanggap na tulong. Patuloy aniya ang gobyerno sa pagtulong upang tuluyan nang wakasan ang insurhensiya sa probinsya at ng buong Pilipinas. (NCLM/PIAAgusan del Norte)

Philippine Army captures NPA high-powered firearms in AgSur

Four assorted high-powered and low-powered firearms with ammunitions were captured by the troops of the 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB) under the operational control of 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, during an encounter with more or less 15 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels while conducting focused military operations (FMO) at Sitio Mentakee Brgy. Binicalan, San Luis of the province on December 26, 2021.

The encounter transpired at around 11 o’clock in the morning and lasted for 10 minutes which resulted in the capture of one M79 grenade launcher, one M16 rifle, one Caliber 45 pistol, one Caliber 38 pistol, three magazines with ammunition and one civilian bag. The presence of the armed group who are members of the HQS LOADER, SRC2 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee was compromised by a concerned civilian informant confirming their location, to which the military forces immediately responded through the conduct of intensified military operations in order to suppress their atrocities and gatherings in connection with their 53rd founding anniversary. residents of Brgy. Binicalan for their active support and cooperation that led us to disrupt their planned atrocities. The 26IB is on high alert through increased patrols, checkpoints, and strengthened security in its area of operations to prevent the NPA’s threat of violence during its anniversary. We have deployed our troops for an intensified military operation. We will not allow these terrorists to mark their anniversary with any atrocities,” said Goce.

The NPA is considered as the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and it is believed that they will increase hostilities through attacks against the government especially the security forces, telecommunication facilities, plantations, and other agroindustrial sites. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, commanding officer of 26IB, expressed his gratitude to the concerned residents of Brgy. Binicalan for their active support and cooperation to the government troops. “Indeed, the terrorists were desperate to conduct terrorist attacks to harass the community and I thank the “The capture of the rebels’ firearms only shows that the CPP-NPA is weakening and the AFP has continued its duty to end the conflict. The government is winning the war against these terrorists and we will not allow them any room to celebrate their anniversary,” Goce added. (2Lt Cecille C. Tappa, CMO Officer, 26IB, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)