CAMP SANG-AN, ZDS -Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU),joins the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC held over the weekned at the headquarters of the Ist Infantry Division 11D here.
Galvez enlighten the participants that the Transformation Program (TP) for former Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) rebels, their families, and the community, which was the highlight of the discussion, seeks to end the local communist armed conflict by fostering community resilience, good governance, strengthening the LGU’s leadership position, and transforming the FRs and families into peaceful and effective civilians.
Brig. Gen. Leonel M. Nicolas, the 102nd Infantry Brigade Commander, presented the different interventions of the National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) to support the socioeconomic needs of the Friends Rescued (FRs).
From the 431 FRs recorded from 2016 to the present, 245 had already returned to their communities, six were enlisted as regular members of the Philippine Army, and 138 served as CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) members.
In his remarks, Sec. Galvez Jr. commended the RTF-ELCAC 9 for its exemplary achievement in dismantling the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee’s (WMRPC) six Guerilla Fronts (GFs), two Regional Operations Command, and one Regional Urban Committee.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, the 1ID Commander, said that the Command should intensify its collaboration with the different local government units and concerned government and non-government agencies to infuse more programs to the recently cleared and few remaining affected areas to sustain the gains of the Command permanently.
The meeting was chaired by Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil of DILG9. Also present were Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., Commander of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao; Police Brig. Gen. Neil B. Alinsañgan, Regional Director, PRO9; and USec. Isidro L. Purisima; USec David B. Diciano; USec Glen Paje of OPAPRU; and the Battalion Commanders under the 102Bde.
The RTF-ELCAC 9 and OPAPRU plans to hold peace education in various provinces and at the Regional FR Summit in September.(ATM).
