ILOILO City – Nineteen members of militant groups in Sitio So-oc, Barangay Navais, Mandurriao district here recently took their oath of allegiance to the government.
They were members and officers of the Katilingban Sang Imol Sa Syudad Organisadong Grupo (KAISOG) headed by Evelyn Pinuela; Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) headed by Alex Pinuela; Anakbayan member Francis Pinuela; and a transport group led by Evan Pinuela.
They pledged support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) especially its programs for the poor.
The 19 persons took their oath of allegiance before the Army and officers of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
Oath of allegiance was one of the highlights of the multi-sectoral meeting facilitated by the Community Support Program (CSP) team of the 33rd Civil-Military Operation Company of the AFP.
It was in collaboration with the ICPO headed by Police Major Glen Jaromay, officer-in-charge of Police Community Affairs and Development Unit, together with Police Major Edfel Balibadlan, chief of ICPO’s Iloilo City Mobile Force Company; Sambayanan Metro-Iloilo headed by Wennie Doblezo, and Navais barangay council headed by Jj Jhanneigh Mercado.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Marion Sison, commander of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, lauded the 19 militants “for embracing the right path towards peace.”
“We are glad that they now have realized that genuine peace and progress can only be achieved through unity. The government cannot solve the problems alone, but with the people and the community on our side, nothing is impossible,” Sison said.
“The government is really serious in helping those who are willing to back to the fold of the government. Wala silang mapala sa kanilang pakikibaka, pero kung nasa government sila, maraming silang programa na ma-avail,” he added./PN
