Las Navas folks hail army for peace and development work

By DPAO, 8ID PA
December 2, 2014

NORTHERN SAMAR – Local residents hailed the army’s peace and development initiatives at Brgy. San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar as part of the 34th Infantry (Reliable) Battalion’s Bayanihan Team Activities in the said barangay.

According to Lt Colonel Edgar R delos Reyes, the commander of 34th Infantry Battalion, a team from 34IB was tasked to conduct series of peace and development activities in the aforementioned barangay. The team was well received by Hon. Apolinario Levico, the chairman of Brgy. San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar along with other barangay officials and the community.

“The activity was conducted in the area to protect the communities from NPA’s extortion, deception and attacks to innocent civilians and properties,” according to Delos Reyes. He further added “the collaboration between the local officials, community and the army team on peace and development outreach in the said barangay will send a strong message to the NPA leadership on the futility of their armed struggle.” It can be gleaned that the Municipality of Las Navas was declared as “Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready” municipality last September 7, 2014.

Highlighting the activities were the conduct of dialogues, film showing and information awareness drive in the barangay. Feeding program in partnership with the local officials of the barangay and members of the community shared their time in conducting feeding program at the barangay Day Care Center.

8ID Commander MGEN Jet B. Velarmino expressed his support for the 34IB. He further added, “Your army here in Eastern Visayas along with other stakeholders in the peace and development initiatives in the region affirm our roles and mandate of preserving and sustaining the gains we have achieved through the years and will continuously work for the attainment of a lasting peace geared towards development in this part of the region.

Meanwhile, two army soldiers will face administrative charges for allegedly taking hostage workers of a videoke bar at Ormoc City on December 1, 2014.

PFC Ruel Oboquin, 22, and PFC Ronie Mameng, 24, of 19th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division reportedly barged into the Bahada Bar at around 3:45 a.m. Reports said that the two soldiers were looking for someone. When they failed to find the person the workers were rounded up and were forced to reopen the bar.