LIBERTAD, Misamis Oriental (PIA) -- People in the hinterlands of Misamis Oriental are now more confident in countering local communist armed conflict in their barangays because of their high trust in the government according to recent reports received by the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of Upper Libertad Force Commander Mardy Hortillosa.
Attributing the government’s strong whole of nation approach to Ending in Local Communist Armed Conflict or ELCAC campaign as a key factor in the weakening influence of the Communist Terrorist Group-New People's Army (CTG-NPA), the Force Commander underscored the importance of building community relations and trust in empowering far-flung barangays against propaganda.
“Binabantayan po natin ang hinterland areas natin, lalo-lalo na sa presensya ng mga communist terrorist groups, swerte kami na may budget na binibigay sa amin para maka conduct tayo ng ELCAC activities lalo-lalo na ang Duterte Legacy activity sa hinterland barangays,” he said.
(We are monitoring our hinterland areas, especially in the presence of communist terrorist groups, we are lucky to have a budget given to us so that we can conduct ELCAC activities, especially the Duterte Legacy activity in the hinterland barangays)
In addition to pushing strong information activities, Hortillosa shared that they had assured the western barangays of effective law enforcement and security support to complement their respective developmental efforts and received only one report of CTG-NPA-related concerns for the 2nd quarter of 2022.
Edgar Hanolino, a resident of Barangay Dulong, Libertad, under one of the 2nd PMFC’s Areas of Responsibility (AOR) in western Misamis Oriental disclosed that they had observed strong community relations and coordination among the police and their community.
“Kani na battalion [2nd PMFC] karon adunay maayong relasyon sa mga tao danhi sa lungsod sa Libertad, diri sa lungsod sa Libertad gi pasigrabo gyud namo na malinawon gyud ni siya, kay ang sa peace and order dili gyud ka angay mabakala,” he said.
(This battalion [2nd PMFC] has good relations with the people here in the town of Libertad, here in Libertad we are proud that we are very peaceful because you don’t have to worry about our peace and order status) (PIA 10-Misamis Oriental)
