Speech of CG, 9ID during the SIP-OPAPP and BMFC Conference

18 August 2009

　

I AM VERY THANKFUL TO THE BICOL MINISTERIAL FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE FOR GIVING ME THIS PRIVILEGE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS NOBLE UNDERTAKING OF PROMOTING PEACE IN BICOL REGION. AS THE COMMANDER OF THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN BICOL REGION, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY OUT THE MANDATED TASKS GIVEN TO US RELATED TO THE PROMOTION OF PEACE BY ENDING THIS INSURGENCY PROBLEM BY JUNE 2010. IT IS ONLY BY DEFEATING THE CPP-NPA THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE BIG LEAP ON COUNTRYWIDE DEVELOPMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY JUMPSTARTED.

IT IS VERY HEART-WARMING TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE ACTIVE PARTNERS IN THE RELIGIOUS SECTOR WHO HAVE THROWN THEIR FULL SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENCIES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION PROGRAM IS NOT YET APPRECIATED BY MOST PEOPLE IN THE REGION. OUR EFFORTS IN DISSEMINATING THE MERITS OF THIS PROGRAM IS STILL INADEQUATE. WITH ITS AIM TO SUSTAIN GENUINE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INTERVENTIONS AS WELL TO CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING DIVISIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, THE SIP IS THE RIGHT PATH TO BE TAKEN BY OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE NOW IN THE COMMUNIST MOVEMENT. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THIS PROGRAM ALSO BENEFITS THE DEPENDENTS OF THE FORMER REBELS IN THEIR DESIRE TO REINTEGRATE THE MAINSTREAM SOCIETY. MOREOVER, THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO CREATE AND ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO THE PROMOTION OF PEACE IN THE PURSUIT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; AND, TO PROVIDE A PEACEFUL AVENUE OF DISSOLVING ARMED REBEL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONVERTING THEIR MILITARY STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES INTO PRODUCTIVE UNITS.

THIS GOOD EXAMPLE SHOWN TO US BY THE BMFC (RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY) MUST BE A DRIVING FORCE TO MOTIVATE ALL OTHER SECTORS IN THE SOCIETY TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS ACHIEVING OUR ULTIMATE GOAL OF PRESERVING PEACE IN BICOLANDIA. AS AGENTS OF GOD IN THIS WORLD, YOU HAVE THE CONVINCING POWER TO WIN BACK OUR BROTHERS. AS MEMBERS OF THE AFP, WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE PROMOTION OF THIS PROGRAM BY UTILIZING EVERY SOLDIER WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO FAR FLUNG AREAS. OUR UNIT COMMANDERS CAN INITIATE DIALOGUES WITH LOCAL EXECUTIVES AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS PROPERLY DISSEMINATED AND UNDERSTOOD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE INITIATED A MOVE OF PRODUCING INFORMATIVE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS ON THE SIP THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED EVEN TO THE REMOTEST COMMUNITIES ALL THROUGHOUT BICOL REGION. THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE BIG CONTRIBUTIONS THAT I CAN THINK OF ASIDE FROM THE OTHER ROLES INHERENT TO THE PHILIPPINE ARMY ORGANIZATION.
　
THE SOLUTION TO THESE COMPLEX PROBLEMS IN OUR SOCIETY CANNOT BE SOLVED BY RESORTING TO ARMED VIOLENCE. AS HISTORY LESSONS HAVE ENLIGHTENED US, WE MUST SIT DOWN AND RESOLVE PROBLEMS WITHOUT BLOODSHED AND DESTRUCTION TO PROPERTY. AS THE SAYING GOES, “IN UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH”; THIS MUST BE OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE TO ACHIEVE OUR DREAM OF LIVING IN A PROSPEROUS NATION WHERE OUR CHILDREN WILL ENJOY THEIR FREEDOM.

GODSPEED AND MABUHAY!