TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) – The 503rd Infantry Brigade (IB), 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, is sustaining efforts to keep Kalinga communities insurgency-cleared.
The 503rd IB is conducting Modified Community Support Sustainment Team activities in 19 areas in Kalinga to continuously monitor and strengthen government programs towards sustaining peace gains and promoting community development.
“Kung ano ‘yung mga cleared areas natin before, we, as much as possible, visit them, ano ba talaga ‘yung mga issue pa na pwedeng gatungan o gamitin ulit. Etong sustainment team namin ay partnering with the local government pa rin,” said 503rd IB Commander Brigadier General Romualdo Raymund Landingin during a peace and order meeting.
Landingin said they also recognize and work with people’s organizations in sustainment efforts.
The official is optimistic that with these initiatives, the province of Kalinga’s internal peace and security status will be declared stable within the year.
Still, Landingan urged for vigilance, cautioning that front organizations will attempt to rebuild their influence in previously insurgency-cleared villages.
“We have to be watchful for these organizations. [There’s] no cause for alarm, but we must be concerned, maging concerned po tayo,” he said.
“So eto yung prine-prevent po natin sana and ma-sustain and hopefully within the year talagang we can work out that the province of Kalinga will be stable ang internal peace and security status,” he added.
Landingin said they are currently running after the CPP-NPA’s Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee which they have successfully pushed out of Kalinga. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
