MINDANAO NEWS

SECRETARY ANDANAR INSPECTS HALFWAY HOUSE, VISITS FORMER REBELS IN BUKIDNON

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) 10 Secretary Martin Andanar inspected the on-going construction of a halfway house and visited the newly created Bukas Kalinaw 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion (8IB) Chapter, an organization of former rebels, on Friday, October 23, 2020, at Impasugong Magbuliga Development Complex, Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon. The construction of the halfway house is one of the programs of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) which the province has allocated PhP5M for its construction while the municipality of Impasugong donated one-hectare of land where the building is being constructed. Sec. Andanar ensured that

the said facility will be excellently constructed as a temporary shelter and treatment facility for the former rebels. Sec. Andanar further visited the Bukas Kalinaw 8IB Chapter – Lumadnong Organisasyong D a l a n g p a n a n (LINONDIGAN), an organization of the former rebels of 8IB who benefited from the various interventions of RTFELCAC. He also witnessed other interventions of the government such as the two-day skills training dubbed as “TESDA Interventions and Concerns for Bukidnon (TICBuk) Meat Processing” which benefited a total of 20 former rebels and the Arm-to-Farm Program of this unit, a four-hectare farm for former rebels. The Secretary was accompanied by Mr. Franklin Gumapon, Regional Director of Philippine Information Agency Region 10; Ms. Tarhata S. Mapandi, Regional Director of TESDA – 10; Hon. Maria Norly D. Pepito, Municipal ViceMayor of Impasugong; Colonel Ferdinand T. Barandon, Commander of 403rd Infantry Brigade; Col Jose Arn M Real,

Deputy Commander of 403rd Infantry Brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo V. Talaroc Jr., Commanding Officer of 8IB during the Secretary’s assessment on the implementation of the government’s initiatives. “Si Sec. Andanar nagabisita aron masiguro ang mayo nga pag-implementar ug ka-epektibo sa adbokasiya sa gobyerno sa pagpaundang sa armadong pakigbisog. Kini nagapakita lamang nga ang atong gobyerno seryoso sa pagbatok sa insurhensiya sa atong nasod,” Lt. Col. Talaroc Jr said. (Sec. Andanar visited to ensure the proper implementation and effectiveness of the government’s advocacy in ending armed conflict. This only shows that our government is serious in its fight against insurgency in our country.) Col. Barandon said “Mapasalamaton ako kang Sec. Andanar sa paghatag nato ug tabang aron maundang ang lokal na komunistang armadong pakigbangi diri sa atong nasod. Ang kasundalohan makasiguro kauban ang among mga kaabag magapadayon sa pagsuporta sa mga programa sa gobyerno sa pagpanday sa kalinaw ug kalamboan sa pagpaundang sa insurhensiya.” (I am grateful to Sec. Andanar’s assistance in our shared efforts to end the local communist armed conflict here in our country. Rest assured that the army together with our partners will always support the programs of our government in building peace and development in ending insurgency).