KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The Philippine Army continues to bring basic government services especially to far-flung communities in Tboli town to help residents veer away from recruitment of communist-terrorist groups.

The 11th Special Forces (SF) Company, in partnership with the Department of Education, recently organized “Ugnayan sa Paaralan,” a sustainment activity under the Community Support Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Cpt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, 11th SF Company commanding officer, said the activity held at Datal Nabong Elementary School – Lembed Extension in Brgy. Laconon, aims to help maintain schools as conflict-free peace zones.

“We aim to transform communities, especially the youth into 'peacebuilders' and 'catalysts for development' while enhancing their awareness to protect them from deceptions and recruitment by the New People’s Army and other lawless elements,” Punsalan told PIA.

Aside from the IEC campaign on anti-terrorism, students and parents from the village benefited from a feeding program, school vicinity and facility improvement and clean-up drive.

“This activity exemplifies the NTF-ELCAC’s whole-of-nation approach to mobilize all sectors of society to be free and resistant to communist terrorist groups mass base building operations and infiltration activities,” he added.

Cpt. Punsalan highlighted that public vigilance, especially of the Tboli indigenous community in Barangays Laconon and Tudok, plays a huge role in tracking NPA terrorists that trespass within the residents’ ancestral domain.

The army official cited as example the neutralization of a high-ranking NPA leader in February, this year

Concerned residents reported that Martin Min Fay, also known as Diego or Kidlat, an NPA member and vice commanding officer of the Front Organizational Command of Guerilla Front MUSA under the Far South Mindanao Region was sighted in the area.

Army troops immediately conducted an operation in Purok Alaw, Sitio Lembed, Barangay Laconon to serve a warrant of arrest against Fay; the suspect engaged the government troops and was killed in the ensuing firefight.

“Malaki ang psychological impact nito, especially may concrete na example of participation ang community para narin hindi na bumalik doon ang mga NPA sa community nila,” he added.

The 11th SF Company of the 5th Special Forces Battalion operates in the municipalities of Banga and Tboli. (PIA 12)