by Miriam G. Desacada
Catarman N.Samar–The Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) of Las Navas, Northern Samar convened on Wednesday (June 14) to address issues and concerns on the ongoing anti-insurgency drive in that town.
Representative Harris Christopher Ongchuan (2nd district, N. Samar) and Las Navas Mayor Arlito Tan, with Major General Camilo Ligayo, 8th Infantry Division commander, and Colonel Efren Morados, commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, joined the meeting with representatives of the DILG and the police.
Members of the Municipal and Barangay Task Forces (MTF/BTF) to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (ELCAC) shared their efforts in the campaign to end the insurgency problem in Las Navas.
Ligayo, during his speech, thanked the members of the Las Navas MPOC for their contribution in attaining an improved peace and order situation in the town.
“Be a leader to your barangay, military is not the only solution; our convergence of efforts is the key in solving the insurgency here in Las Navas,” Ligayo said.
Congressman Ongchuan encouraged everyone to work hand in hand and be part of ending the decades-old insurgency problem in Las Navas.
“I have seen the problems and the root causes that we need to address. Let’s help each other to solve the insurgency and together we can unite towards socio-economic development,” Ongchuan said.
Mayor Tan, for his part, also praised the efforts of the government in delivering the basic services and addressing the issues in the community.
“Totoo iyan na tayo ay biktima ng mga NPA dahil sa sobrang takot pero ngayon sa magandang pamamalakad sa gobyerno sa tulong ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, nag-iba na. Ngayon, dito sa Las Navas marami na ang nag surrender lalo na ang mga Yunit Milisya pati mga full-timer. Kaya tayo’y magkaisa at magtulungan na upang tuluyan nang makamit natin ang kapayapaan,” Tan said.
The town of Las Navas is a recipient of a P17.93-million farm-to-market road and a P20-million Level II Water System, under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), one of the government programs designed to improve the economic conditions of former conflict-prone communities. —-Miriam G. Desacada