by Franklin P. Gumapon
PIÑAN, Zamboanga del Norte, Feb. 12 (PIA) - - Military and police officials together with some officials of the local government units (LGUs) have converged here yesterday to join the 42nd founding anniversary of the 101st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.
In his welcome message, brigade commanding officer Col. Jet B. Velarmino expressed his gratitude to both the soldiers and civilians for their unwavering support to the brigade’s mission especially in responding to natural and man-made disasters.
Velarmino reported that the brigade, whose area of jurisdiction covers the provinces of Misamis Occidental and portions of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, had succeeded last year in neutralizing “37 enemies of the state” belonging to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) operating in the far-flung barangays of these three provinces.
For his part, 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division (1ID) assistant division commander BGen. Rolando C. Amarille urged the men and women of the brigade to sustain the campaign against insurgency “to stop and eventually clear its remnants.”
Amarille also commended the efforts of the brigade commander for maintaining a good relationship with the local chief executives and the civilian populace by involving them in pursuing peace in the area.
“We must sustain our campaign against insurgency and strengthen our security and internal defense to defeat and weaken the capabilities of our enemies,” Amarille said in his speech.
101st brigade, which is based at Barangay Del Pilar, Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte, belongs to the 1ID in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The brigade’s 42nd founding anniversary has for its theme: “101st Brigade Kabalikat Tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”
Present in yesterday’s event were Zamboanga del Norte Vice Governor Francis H. Olvis, Congressman Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos of Zamboaga del Norte’s first district, municipal mayors Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon of Piñan, Nilo Z. Sy of Sindangan, Rolando Tablezo of Leon B. Postigo, Roseller Manigsaca of Rizal and Anacleto H. Olvis Jr. of Polanco. Mayor Evelyn T. Uy of Dipolog City and Mayor Dominador G. Jalojos Jr. of Dapitan City were represented by Councilor James P. Verduguez and Executive Assistant Alemarlou Dagpin, respectively.
The media entities covering the activity were ABS-CBN-Dipolog and Philippine Information Agency (PIA). (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)
