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NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur: “Abra is for the Abraneous. We do not want
the terrorist movement of the parasitic and greedy rebels from the
New People’s Army [NPA] to exploit our province for their futile
movement,” said Rizaldo B. Agliam in Ilocano on Friday. Accounts
of continued rebel abuses are forcing Abra’s men into joining the
Cafgu, said a report by the Philippine News Agency Sunday.
Agliam, 48, a native of Barangay Nagaparan,
Danglas, Abra, was one of the 113-strong Civilian Voluntary
Organization (CVO) applicants from the towns of Lapaz, Danglas and
Lagayan, the so-called Ladalaga complex of the province, to join the
rigid three-month Basic Military Training (BMT) conducted recently
by the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion and the 77th Infantry
(Cadre) Battalion in Barangay Gaddani, Tayum, Abra. After their
graduation, the CVOs will be enlisted as members of the Citizen
Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgu) and be under the operational
control of the Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade based in Barangay
Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.
“We know the risks of being a Cafgu member, we
are ready for that,” Agliam continued.
“If my life would be the best sacrifice for
the Abraneous to gain justice, peace and progress, I’m ready and
will die for that cause. It will be a great honor to serve the
people in this part of the country,” Agliam said when asked if he
is not afraid to be targeted by the NPAs in the area.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party
of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Lt. Col. Raul Bautista, Commander of the
Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion based in Lagangilang, Abra,
disclosed that the training of the CVOs to become Cafgus is one of
the best initiatives done by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
to eradicate the communist insurgency in the countryside.
“These would-be Cafgus will effectively help
the army units as well as the government in its campaign against the
NPA rebels or insurgents considering their familiarity with the
people’s culture and terrain in the countryside,” Bautista said.
“Training and discipline are the two vital
values that will be inculcated among Cafgu recruits. But, above
these two is the consciousness that they are staking their lives,
side-by-side with soldiers in order to uphold the basic rights and
privileges of the people in their communities,” Bautista added.
Meanwhile, newly-promoted Brig. Gen. Loreto
Rirao, Commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade, announced the
continuing joint military and police operations in pursuing the
communist rebels.
“The military and police organizations will
remain vigilant and will not rest until the campaign against
terrorism is won and the terrorist menace is ended once and for all.
It may take time but with the support of the people, the AFP and
PNP, we will eradicate the terrorist menace,” Rirao said.
In the conduct of the CVOs training, Rirao
acknowledged the all-out support of Rep. Cecil Luna (Lone District
of Abra), the Abra provincial government headed by Gov. Eustaquio P.
Bersamin and the different Local Chief Executives of the
Municipalities of Lapaz, Danglas, Lagayan and Tayum.
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