By
Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY - Brigadier General (BGen.) Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., Officer-in-Command
of the Philippine Army’s (PA)1st
Infantry (Tabak)Division based in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga
del Sur, underscored the importance of working closely with the stakeholders in
implementing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Internal Peace and
security Plan (IPSP).
BGen. Trinidad said in a
peace rally held recently at the municipal grounds of Leon Postigo town that
the AFP is now pursuing IPSP Bayanihan to help empower and mobilize the local
government units (LGUs) and the whole citizenry towards peace and prosperity.
The peace rally, which was
attended by some 800 people comprising barangay leaders, students, teachers,
policemen, officials and employees of the municipal government of Leon Postigo and
other stakeholders, capped the Bayanihan Team Operations of the 10th
Infantry battalion which carried the theme, “The people unite for peace and
progress.”
In the same activity,
former rebels also gave their personal testimony when they were fighting the
government until their return to the folds of the law.
“I
have listened to the message of the military that war is not the solution to
our problems today. I said to myself that, indeed, the military has changed,” a
former rebel said.
He
continued that there was an instance that his wife went home with a Bible after
attending an assembly called by the military. “I immediately embraced the Bible
and thanked God that the military now shares the Word of God to the people,” he
said with tears dropping from his eyes.
TISP-Bayanihan is a
people-centered approach aimed at attaining lasting peace and progress by involving
all stakeholders particularly the LGUs.
Towards
the end of the assembly, there was burning of the New People’s Army (NPA) flag,
symbolizing for its defeat.
“We
can end the cycle of poverty by supporting the President’s advocacy and dream
for good governance to attain progress and development,” Board Member Ruth M.
Brillantes spoke before the participants in the peace rally.
She
also pointed out that the priority projects of Zamboanga del Norte Governor
Roberto Y. Uy today are health and infrastructure which get the full support of
President Aquino. (PIA9)