Army initiates forum for business sector vs NPA extortion
By 23rd Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – Business owners and members of the Rotary Club of North Butuan joined the one-day information drive initiated by the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23IB), Philippine Army which was aimed to bring education and enlightenment on the different schemes of extortion activities of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) upon the business sector in the area. The forum which held on January 14, 2020 at the unit’s headquarters at Jamboree Site, Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte was also designed to win the support of the business sector to finally put an end to the extortion activities of the CNTs in the areas of operation (AORs) of the 23IB. The Rotary Club Butuan North which is a non-profit organization is a long-time partner of the 23IB and other government agencies especially in the efforts to bring the needed assistance and social development of communities in Butuan City and parts of Agusan del Norte. The partnership between the said organizations and government agencies promote different strategies to ensure better services for communities as part of the state’s efforts to realize sustainable development and inclusive peace. During the forum, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, commander of 23IB, presented an overview of the unit, including its mission and objectives and the accomplished goals that considerably weakened the foremost enemy of the people of Butuan and Agusan del Norte – the guerrilla front (GF) 4A of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA.
He also stressed the harmonious implementation of government programs through the convergence of different line agencies that brought positive impacts among the lives of residents in different communities in the AOR of 23IB.
During the forum, the business owners expressed their gratitude to the unit for the shared knowledge and information about the NPA activities. They also assured their commitment to help the government, particularly the 23IB in its goal of ending the extortion activities of the CNTs in the area. Lt. Col. Paulo expressed gladness upon the show of support of the business community towards the mission of the unit. He thanked the business owners and members of the Rotary Club of North Butuan for the time they spent with the 23IB, especially during the presentations and discussions in the said forum. “As partners of the unit in peace and development, your unmeasured support to promote sustainable and long-lasting peace of the government for the community is highly appreciated. I urge you all to stop paying the revolutionary taxes being demanded by the NPA,” Paulo said. Paulo also emphasized that winning peace and development, especially in communities, cannot be done solely by the government. “There must be a harmonious partnership between the government and private sectors to bring peace and development in communities. This kind of convergence is very much needed now as the government successfully weakened the GF-4A and the remnants of their members are now on the run. Let us grab this situation and together let us go down to our people in communities to facilitate various development initiatives,” Paulo said. He also emphasized that under the whole-of-nation approach of the government, the private sector can join and share their expertise in addressing development gaps in communities.
“The ultimate solution to the insurgency is the convergence of all efforts from the government and private sector,” Paulo said. (1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang, CMO Officer, 23IB PA)