ARMY INITIATES FORUM FOR BUSINESS SECTOR VS NPA EXTORTION By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang Business owners and members of the Rotary Club of North Butuan joined the one-day information drive initiated by the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23IB), Philippine Army which was aimed to bring education and enlightenment on the different schemes of extortion activities of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) upon the business sector in the area. The forum which held on January 14, 2020 at the unit’s headquarters at Jamboree Site, Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte was also designed
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| January 16-22, 2021
to win the support of the business sector to finally put an end to the extortion activities of the CNTs in the areas of operation (AORs) of the 23IB. The Rotary Club Butuan North which is a non-profit organization is a long-time partner of the 23IB and other government agencies especially in the efforts to bring the needed assistance and social development of communities in Butuan City and parts of Agusan del Norte. The partnership between the said organizations and government agencies promote
different strategies to ensure better services for communities as part of the state’s efforts to realize sustainable development and inclusive peace. During the forum, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, commander of 23IB, presented an overview of the unit, including its mission and objectives and the accomplished goals that considerably weakened the foremost enemy of the people of Butuan and Agusan del Norte – the guerrilla front (GF) 4A of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA. He also stressed the harmonious Caraga INFOCUS
