by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–The local government unit (LGU) of Las Navas town in Northern Samar had partnered with the 20th Infantry Battalion (20IB) in conducting a Peace Forum on Tuesday (March 12) to foster a united, peaceful community against the continuing threat of communist terrorism.
The Peace Forum, which was held at the Mayor’s Boardroom in the Municipal Hall at Poblacion, Las Navas, carried the theme, “Uniting Communities, Building Peace Together,” and aimed at addressing the problem of insurgency in the area.
Las Navas Mayor Arlito Tan, collaborated with 20IB acting commander, Lt. Col. Richard Villaflor, in holding the forum, which the mayor said is the cornerstone of the local peace initiatives of the LGU and the military.
Brigadier General Efren Morados, commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, attended the forum along with members of both the municipal and barangay Task Forces to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC), and LGU and military officers.
Tan, who is also the municipal TF-ELCAC chairman, said unity among stakeholders is vital in achieving a peaceful, prosperous Las Navas town. He said the communist terrorist groups and their supporters must be stopped by openly supporting the national TF-ELCAC and the Task Force Balik-Loob initiatives.
“Magtulungan tayo. Magsupport tayo sa gobyerno. Para maging peaceful ang Las Navas,” the mayor declared as he also underscored the importance of collective responsibility towards this end, meaning that all sectors must take their respective parts in acting as a whole.
The 20IB facilitated the Threat Situation Briefing and the Orientation to Government Executives, which enlightened the attendees on the role and responsibilities of the LGU and the barangay units in addressing insurgency issues in their respective areas.
Morados and Villaflor then spoke on the importance of peace and order in every community, the promotion of which must be a shared responsibility between the LGU and the military. They said that local authorities have crucial roles in ensuring a united community that is shrouded with peace, safety and security.
The local TF-ELCAC members later reaffirmed openly their commitment to peace and unity—the forum’s primal goals—by taking their oath of commitment and signing their commitment of support to peace initiatives, both documents of which symbolizes their dedication to end insurgency for lasting peace in town.
Villaflor vowed that the 20IB is determined to make the terrorists irrelevant in Las Navas and the 2nd district of Northern Samar, but said that such effort cannot be done by the troops alone.
“Kayo bilang mga miyembro ng BTF-ELCAC ng inyong mga barangay ang siyang dapat manguna sa usaping pangkapayapaan at kaayusan ng inyong komunidad. Makakaasa kayong mananatiling nakasuporta ang inyong 20 IB (We Lead) troopers sa inyong pagsusumikap na makamit ang tunay na kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa ating mga minamahal na Nortehanon,” he said.
The Peace Forum also featured messages of support from other stakeholders, Municipal Local Government Operations officer Rosalinda Jarito, Barangay Captains Lyn Gutaba of Brgy. San Antonio and Rico Tapong of Aguinaldo, and representatives from the Las Navas Police and the 20 IB. —Miriam G. Desacada