903rd Brigade conducts Ugnayan sa Paaralan

           The 903^rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army recently conducted an information dissemination campaign in several schools in Pilar, Sorsogon starting on July 5 up to July 13, 2011. Dubbed as “Ugnayan sa Paaralan”, the primary objective of the program was to provide useful information to the students so that they could be productive members of society. Among the topics discussed were: 1) the Recruitment of Students by the New People’s Army; 2) Effects of Marijuana, Inhalants and Shabu; 3) the Role of the AFP in Development; 4) Values Enhancement and 5) Youth Welfare Program.

With the 3^rd Special Forces Company (Airborne) in the lead, the activity was a collaboration of different agencies which included the Local Government Unit of Pilar, the Philippine National Police, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region V.

The table below shows the schools where the program was held and the number of students who attended:

DATE	NAME OF SCHOOL	LOCATION	NR OF STUDENTS
July 5	Pilar National Comprehensive High School	Brgy Marifosque	350
July 6	Bayasong National High School	Brgy Bayasong	100
July 7	Holy Family Academy	Brgy Putiao	200
July 8	Salvacion National High School	Brgy Salvacion	109
July 11	Palanas National High School	Brgy Palanas	84
July 12	Manuel T Sia Memorial High School	Brgy Danlog	120
July 13	Abucay National High School	Brgy Abucay	227

Cpt Francis Espiritu of 3SFCompany organized the program. With him were Cpt Jovito Labog and 1Lt Pamela Panesa of 903^rd Brigade, Pilar Municipal Administrator Pastor Job P Villarin, Mrs Geraldine O Navora of the DSWD, PO1 Leila J Gonzaga of the PNP and several agents from PDEA.

The students expressed their appreciation for the activity. “Ito po ay makakatulong samin. Para hindi kami maloko ng NPA.”, said Gina M., a 14 year old student from Brgy Bayasong. The teachers also welcomed the efforts of the soldiers.

OPLAN Bayanihan of the AFP calls for the participation of the different stakeholders towards the development of the community, including the students. After all, they are the “hope of the nation”.

9IB gets recognition from Red Cross

           The 9th Infantry (SANDIGAN) Battalion was recently recognized by the Philippine National Red Cross Masbate Chapter for their continued support to the blood donation program of the organization.

The launching of 2011 BLOOD DONORS MONTH CELEBRATION was held on 20 July 2011 at the Philippine Red Cross-Masbate Chapter Grounds in Masbate City headed by Mrs Amparo D Perez, PRC Administrator. The theme was: More blood..More life. The ceremony was followed by a mass blood donation.

The activity was participated in by more or less three hundred fifty (350) donors coming from the 9IB, 93^rd DRC, PNP, BJMP, NAPOLCOM, BFP, DepEd, PGUs, LGUs, LGAs, NGOs and POs. Fifty (50) soldiers from 9IB donated blood.

The Certificate of Appreciation was signed by PNRC Secretary General Gowendolyn Pang, and Christie Monina M Nalupta, MD, Director for Blood Services. The award was received by LtCol Julian Pacatan, the Battalion Commander.

LtCol Pacatan promised all out support for the programs of the Philippine National Red Cross. After all, he said, the soldier’s mission is also to save lives.

Soldier, civilian killed in Sorsogon NPA attack

            Two people were killed in an attack by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Sorsogon province on Friday (May 27, 2011), police said.

            The victims were identified as Private First Class Efren Salcedo Jr. and Resureccion Medones.

            The soldier's wife, Jerizza, said her husband went home to Barangay Macawayan in Irosin town to celebrate the birthday of their child. Pfc Salcedo was one of the soldiers who joined the rescue operations during typhoon “Chedeng” in Sorsogon.

            The celebration was set to be held in Sta. Magdalena town.

            Jerizza said the jeep carrying the victims were leaving for the town when 3 heavily armed men fired at the vehicle. She said she jumped out of the jeepney to plead for the gunmen to stop firing.

            "Tumalon ako palabas, nagmamakaawa na'kong itigil na nila, tuloy-tuloy pa paputok nila," she added. Medones, a friend of Salcedo, was also killed in the gunfire.

            "Hindi tama yung ginagawa nila. Pati sibilyan nadadamay, kung mangyari rin yan sa kanila," said Medones' husband, Danny.

            Jerizza identified one of the NPA gunmen as Richard Galos, who is reportedly a neighbor of the victim.

            Police have yet to name the suspect pending the results of an investigation. "Huwag na muna kasi baka maapektuhan ang imbestigasyon," said Senior Superintendent Diosdano Melinante, Irosin police chief.

            The Philippine Army's 49th Infantry Battalion (IB) has condemned the attack and said communist rebels were behind the killing.

            The NPA has launched a series of attacks against government forces in Sorsogon after a ranking rebel leader was recently killed, according to Maj. Edgar Obenieta, executive officer of the Armys' 49th IB. (news)

NPA Kills 10 year old Girl in Village Attack

              A 10 year old girl was killed by the New People’s Army when they attacked the village of San Pascual in the municipality of Casiguran, Sorsogon last April 03, 2011 at around 5:20pm. The terrorists led by Jeffrey Benson aka Pita fired indiscriminately towards the center of the village, hitting Rose Ann Gubat in the chest as she stood at the door of their house. She was immediately rushed to the St Peter’s Hospital in Sorsogon City but was declared dead on arrival.

         The parents of the victim angrily accused the NPAs of being inhuman. “They knew that there were many civilians in the area. Still, they fired their guns without regards for our safety.”, said the mother, Emerita Gubat, in the local dialect. She narrated that they planned to go to Manila for a vacation as she promised her child. But the incident changed everything, especially their lives.

            The residents, too, condemned the atrocity. They were outraged at what the NPAs have done. Many joined the funeral procession carrying placards to show their sentiments, braving possible repercussions from the NPAs. Also, the forced taxation has become a burden to the people, especially during these hard times.

            Col Felix Castro Jr, Commander of the 903^rd Infantry Brigade based in Castilla, Sorsogon, believes that the attack was in retaliation for the support being given by the residents to an Army team immersing in the barangay. “The soldiers have been widely accepted by the villagers for their work, which could lead to the NPAs losing control over the people.”, he added.

            This was, in fact, the third harassment perpetrated by the NPAs against the villagers. The first incident happened on election day last year during which a soldier was hit in the foot. On March 15 this year, the NPAs again fired at the villagers while they were having a dialogue with the troops of 49^th Infantry Battalion. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

            Now, the villagers have asked the soldiers to remain in the barangay. They no longer welcome the NPAs into their territory. Rather than be intimidated, they seem to gain strength from the incident.

            “Our troops will remain in the area until our work is finished. We will continue to protect the residents.”, declared LTC Santiago Enginco of 49IB.

            The parents vow to seek justice for the death of Rose Ann. They filed charges against the NPAs with the Commission on Human Rights in Legazpi City. The Philippine National Police also filed charges against the perpetrators.

           
             A Facebook account has been made for Rose Ann Gubat. A video has also been posted in You Tube – “Long Journey to Peace”.

            With the soldiers by their side, the villagers are now emboldened to resist NPA intimidation. They are hoping that, finally, they will have peace. 

Anti-NPA Rally held in Sorsogon City

       More than a 1,000 people staged a rally on March 29, 2011 at the Freedom Park in Sorsogon City against the New People’s Army to denounce the atrocities they have been doing in the province. The rally coincided with the 42nd anniversary of the NPA.

                         

            Organized by the Federation officials of the BDS (Barangay Defense System) of Castilla, Sorsogon, the rallyists initially assembled in two groups: one group came from the different barangays of the municipalities of Castilla and Pilar while the other group came from the Bacon District and the municipalities of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin, Gubat and Barcelona (all of Sorsogon) as well as students from the city schools. At about 9am, the two groups marched through the streets of the city carrying placards against the NPAs and converged at Freedom Park in front of the Provincial Capitol where a program was conducted. They were seen distributing leaflets to passersby and onlookers. Many bystanders showed their support to the marchers.

            At the park, the marchers assembled and lively reacted to the speakers as they spoke of their disdain for the NPA and their supporters. Amidst a festive atmosphere, the five speakers took turns demanding for a stop in forced extortion, unsolved killings of suspected military spies, intimidation of the residents and the atmosphere of fear they impose in the barangays. The speakers included former rebels, a relative of a CAFGU killed by the NPAs, a student, a farmer and a businessman who was a victim of NPA extortion.

            After the speeches, they burned effigies of Jose Maria Sison and Satur Ocampo as they sang “Pilipinas Kong Mahal”. They then dispersed peacefully before noon.

When asked by media to comment on the rally, Col Felix Castro Jr, the 903^rd Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army, said that the rally is a clear indication that the people of Sorsogon have grown tired of the NPAs who, after 42 years, have not contributed anything good to the province. “People here no longer believe the NPA propaganda. They just want peace and to work hard to improve their lives, without the NPAs threatening them.”, says Col Castro.

 

With more and more people openly airing their grievances against the NPAs, it would not take long before they become totally unwanted in the province. Maybe then, the Sorsogonons will finally have peace.