By Franklin P. Gumapon
LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – “Development can
only take place when the people feel safe.”
Speaking in a program commemorating the 79th
founding anniversary of the Philippine Army’s (PA) 1st Infantry
(Tabak) Division at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Barangay Pulacan here on May 5, 2015, BGen. Gerardo F. Barrientos Jr. underscored the importance of peace in
effecting development in the community.
Barrientos assured the public that the division would
continue doing its role “in the preservation of internal peace and security…for
progress and prosperity of our constituents and communities.”
“We are ready to respond to any threat posed by lawless
elements…and any group that challenges our efforts at achieving peace will face
the full might of the 1st infantry division,” he declared.
He also reported that the strength of the Communist Party of
the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) in the division’s area of
responsibility had decreased by 28 percent as a result of Tabak’s
anti-insurgency campaign. With this,
Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Misamis Occidental had been declared
“conflict-manageable, development-ready” provinces.
“We are working on Zamboanga del Sur to be declared
‘conflict-manageable, development-ready province’ within the year,” he added.
To resolve security problems in the area, Barrientos
appealed to government agencies and civil society groups alike to take part in
this endeavor “through good governance, humanitarian activities, community
empowerment and support to flagship projects and infrastructure programs.”
Major General Rodolfo Demosthenes C. Santillan, Army vice
commander, came over to represent Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri
during the 79th founding anniversary of the 1st Infantry
(Tabak) Division, which was established on Jan. 18, 1936 in Camp Aguinaldo,
Quezon City.