73IB Joins Independence Day Flag Ceremony at Sarangani Provincial Capitol

On June 11, 2010, 73rd Infantry Neutralizer Battalion troopers led by the Battalion Commander joined officials and employees of Sarangani Province during the Flag Ceremony commemorating the 112th Philippine Independence Anniversary. In his message. LTC De Leon assured the people of Sarangani that the Philippine Army shall continue to be of service for peace and development, living up with the aspirations of its forefather - the Ejercito en la Republica de las Islas Filipinas, which was founded by the Katipuneros. (Photos by Cocoy Sexcion: http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/2872-112th_Independence_day.html)

Message of LTC Edgardo Yao De Leon

during the

Independence Day Flag Ceremony at Sarangani Province

Provincial Capitol, Alabel, Sarangani Province

11 June 2010

Honorable Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez, represented by the Provincial Administrator Camacho; DILG Provincial Director Jun Limpin; mga kasama sa lingkod bayan, Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

            “Kalayaan: Tagumpay ng Bayan”. Ito ang tema ng ika-isandaan at labindalawang taong pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Kahit mahigit labing isang dekada na po ang lumipas, nasa kaalaman pa rin ng bawat Pilipino ngayon, bata man o matanda, ang kahalagahan tuwing sumasapit ang June 12. Ito ay dahil sa taon-taon nating paggunita sa Araw ng Kalayaan. Marahil may iba sa atin ang nagtatanong, bakit ba kailangan pa natin tumayo dito, mabilad sa araw, o maulanan, hindi naman araw ng lunes na syang schedule ng Flag Ceremony? Naitanong din kaya natin, na kung hindi natin binibigyang halaga ang araw na ito, sa paglipas ng ilang henerasyon, mananatili kaya sa isipan ng bawat Pilipino ang sakripisyo at kabayanihan ng mga ninuno natin para makamit ang kalayaan? 

            Ngunit ang tunay na katanungan sa araw na ito, ay kung ano ba talaga ang ating kaalaman tungkol sa ating Kalayaan? Ngayon ang tamang pagkakataon para ating gunitain ang mga mahahalagang kaganapan tungo sa paglaya ng ating bayan sa kamay ng mga dayuhan.

            Taong 1896 ng mag umpisa ang rebolusyon ng mga Pilipino laban sa halos apat na daang taong pananakop ng bansang Espanya. Dahil sa mga rebolusyonaryong panunulat ng ating pambansang bayani na si Dr Jose Rizal, binuo ni Andres Bonifacio ang Katipunan upang lumaban sa mga Kastila.

Naging matagumpay ang pag aalsa ng bayan laban sa mga Kastila. Nagkaroon ng armas ang mga Katipunero na syang naging simula ng hukbo ng Pilipino. Kaya noong Marso 22, 1897, itinatag ang rebolusyonaryong pamahalaan ng Pilipinas, kasabay ang pagtatatag ng Philippine Army na nakilala bilang “Ejercito en la Republica de las Islas Filipinas” (Army of the Republic of Philippine Islands).

Sa pangunguna ng walong probinsya sa Luzon, nagtuloy-tuloy at nagging matagumbay ang laban ng mga Pilipino laban sa mga Kastila sa Luzon, Visayas, at dito sa Mindanao. Kaya nung June 12, 1898, idineklara ni General Emilio Aguinaldo sa Kawit, Cavite ang ating Kalayaan sa kamay ng mga Kastila.

Doon unang itinaas ang ating bandila na ginawa sa Hong Kong ng tatlong Pilipina (Marcela Agoncillo; Lorenza Agoncillo; Delfina Herboza) at inawit ang “Lupang Hinirang” na isinulat ni Julian Felipe. Ating tanawin an gating bandila. Laman nito ang makulay na kasaysayan ng ating Kalayaan. Ang puting trayangulo ang simbulo ng Katipunan na syang nagging Philippine Army na lumaban sa mga Kastila. Ang tatlong bituin o star ay simbolo ng Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao na sama samang nag aklas, at ang walong sinag ng araw ay patungkol sa walong probinsyang nanguna sa pakikipaglaban.

Ang ating bandila ay tunay na simbolo ng Tagumpay ng Bayan. Kaya marapat lamang na sa ating paggunita ngayong taon an gating Tema, Kalayaan: Tagumpay ng Bayan. Ipagpatuloy natin ang adhikain ng ating mga pinuno sa kanilang pakikipaglaban para makamit ang kalayaan at tagumpay ng ating bayan. Tayo ay magtulong tulong tungo sa pagkakaisa at pag unlad. Ipagpapatuloy ng Philippine Army ang pagiging hukbo ng sampayanang Pilipino na nakikipaglaban para sa katahimikan at kaunlaran.

Upang tayo ay magtagumpay, kailangan natin ng pagkakaisa. Pagkakaisa na naging susi n gating mga ninuno para makamit ang ating paglaya. Pagkakaisa rin ang magiging daan sa katahimikan at kaunlaran ng ating bayan.

Mabuhay ang Kalayaan! Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino!

 

73IB Supports the GRP-MILF Peacetalks

28 Wheelchairs for Differently-Abled Persons in Maitum

28 wheelchairs suddenly changed the lives of 28 persons and brought joy to 28 families in Maitum, Sarangani Province during this year's celebration of Binuyugan Festival. Through the initiatives of the local government of Maitum. Operations Blessings Foundation of the Philippines donated 27 wheelchairs. The 73rd Infantry Battalion, on the other hand, donated one wheelchair which was sourced from the United States Army.

Medical-Dental Community Outreach at Brgy Tuyan, Malapatan

Last May 27, 2010, Alfa Coy, 73IB, along with the 1002nd Brigade Medical Team; physicians from Hearts and Brains Incorporated; dentists from General Santos Dental Society; volunteers from Marian Movement of Priest, and the Ugalde Family of Brgy Tuyan, Malapatan held a medical-dental mission that benefited 250 indigents of Brgy Tuyan, Malapatan Sarangani Province. Services rendered include tooth extraction, medical checkup, circumcision, plus feeding for the children. Personnel of the 73rd Infantry Battalion also hosted fun games and provided prizes for the children of the brgy.

Dentists from the General Santos Dental Society have been among the active partners of 73rd IB and 1002Bde in providing free dental services to the people of Sarangani. 75 patients from Brgy Tuyan benefited in this particular event.

Military dentists were also part of the dental team. While army medics perform circumcision to 50 boys taking advantage of the summer vacation.

Neutralizers play hosts to kids during the fun games.  

Medical consultation patients queue for free medicines provided by Hearts and Brains Incorporated, an NGO comprise of doctors and dentist headed by Dr Ruel Cagape, MD. These include medicines for common illnesses, as well as vitamins for mothers and children. Kids, on the other hand line up for food. Around 130 benefited from  medical consultations.

ABSCBN SOCSKSARGEN Crew Attend Firearms Familiarization, Handling, and Safety Session

ABS-CBN SOCKSARGEN news anchor, reporters, and crew visited the grounds of 73rd Infantry NEUTRALIZER Battalion at Sitio Tampuan, Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province on May 22, 2010 and attended a one-day event that oriented them on the different firearms in the inventory of an Army infantry battalion. 

Aside from the visual orientation of static displays, they were also given the chance to fire some of the infantry weapons after a brief lecture on gun handling and safety. 

Guns fired include the popular Cal .45 pistol; M16 rifle, and the latest addition to Philippine Army weaponry - the K3 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) light machine gun.

One of the highlights of the event was the team relay competition. The crew were organized into two teams, with each team tasked to hit seven balloon targets at a distance of 10 meters for Cal. .45 pistol and 25 meters for M16 rifle.

The firing was followed by a boodlefight, a Philippine military tradition  of "friendship meal", composed of steamed rice, pansit bihon, bulanglang, and lechon! The "boodles" were annihilated and totally wiped out!

The Battalion Commander then briefed the crew on the prevailing national and local security situations and how 73rd IB addresses the threats in partnership with LGUs, NGOs, and other stakeholders like the tri-media.

The event was capped by the distribution of certificates to the participants, followed  by the awarding ceremony for the team winner and Individual Top Gun awards for the highest pointers in pistol and rifle. As an added fun, a "Bolo Man Award" was given to the individual participant with the least number of hits to challenge "her" to do better next time.

Post-Election Operation Linis

After the success of the May 10 Elections, members of 73rd Infantry Battalion together with policemen of the Sarangani Provincial Police Office (SPPO) work hand-in-hand in cleaning the streets, removing banners and posters of candidates and different political parties as part of the post-election clean-up drive in Sarangani Province and Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

Bantay Eleksyon 2010, Sarangani Province

MAY 10, 2010, National and Local Elections, troops of 73rd Infantry Battalion and cops of  Sarangani Provincial Police Office assist voters in the different polling places. Security Assistance Desks were set up to provide services to the voters. Army and Police personnel were deployed to all polling places to ensure that the electorate are safe and secured from threats and intimidation. As true guardians of freedom and democracy, the troopers' presence created a secured environment that encouraged local folks to go out and exercise their rights to choose their leaders.

Enhancing Cooperation Among Allies

Last March 30, 2010, a closing ceremony on Community Relations training and Maritime Operations training was jointly held at the 73IB Headquarters in Sitio Tampuan, Bgy Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province. Visiting US Army personnel shared their knowledge as they also learned from the experiences of our very own personnel. The 3-day training provided a venue for better understanding and cooperation among the long-time allies, the Philippine Army and US Army troopers.

Continuing Training to Get Closer to the People

Army troopers, who went through a 3-day training on community outreach, applied what they have learned through a one-day community immersion last March 30, 2010. Thirty-nine students from 1002Bde; 73IB; 39IB; 27IB; and JTF GenSan had the opportunity to visit and see for themselves the area and the people whom the 73IB troopers are interacting with, particularly in Kiamba and Maitum, both of Sarangani Province.

Army 113th Anniversary Logo

The Army celebrates its 113th Anniversary with the theme: "Philippine Army at Sambayanan: Magkabalikat sa Pagtataguyod ng Patuloy na Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran"

Former NPA Rebels Receive Initial Cash Assistance

Former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sarangani Province, who were reintegrated into the mainstream society, received an initial amount of P20,000 as immediate cash assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) under its Social Integration Program (SIP) today, March 26, 2010 at Sarangani Provincial Capitol. Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez personally handed over the cash assistance to the returnees who are now called Kauban sa Reporma (KR). Aside from the initial cash assistance, the release of socio-economic package worth P50,000 each and rewards for their surrendered firearms worth ranging from P10,000 to P60,000 each are being facilitated by OPAPP. As a complete package, each KR could receive a total of P100,000 worth of assistance.

A total of eleven (11) rebel returnees in Sarangani received the SIP. The Social Integration Program (SIP) is a government enhanced program launched to increase the economic and livelihood benefits of NPA rebels who would return to the folds of the law.

The KR’s underwent a 5-day values formation and reorientation seminar designed by OPAPP as part of a process to reintegrate them into the mainstream society and start a new life. The awarding of economic package has restored hope to the former rebels whose life was ruined by Communists teachings.

Dante Tiwado alias Garry, 19 years old, the youngest among the rebel returnees, voluntarily surrendered to 73^rd Infantry Battalion on Aug 04, 2009 bringing along with him an armalite (M16) rifle with two magazines and one rifle grenade. According to him, the rifle was trusted to him by NPA leader Comdr Brigol. He turned himself in for he can no longer bear the difficulties of constantly running away and playing hide and seek with authorities.

“The government is sincere in its offer of economic assistance to rebels who voluntary surrender with their firearms. We are calling upon the colleagues of Garry to follow and take this opportunity to enjoy the life of a free man”, said 73IB Commander LTC Edgardo Y De Leon.

Renovated Municipal Health Clinic Turned -over to MLGU, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat

73rd Infantry Battalion, Philip[pine Army, in Partnership with US Army Civil Affairs Team 712, formally turned over the newly renovated Palimbang Municipal Health Clinic to Mayor Samroud Abdul Mamansual on March 24, 2010. Also present during the event were the Municipal Health Workers headed by Dr Ramil Cruz, MHO of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

Peace Covenant signing with COMELEC and local Candidates in Palimbang

Aspiring local candidates of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat pledged their commitment to an Honest, Orderly, and Peaceful Elections (HOPE) during a peace covenant last March 24, 2010 at the Palimbang Municipal Gymnasium. Witnessed by the outgoing Mayor Samroud, the signing of a peace covenant helps ensure that the local elections in Palimbang will be orderly and credible.

Neutralizers conducted Career Orientation Seminar to more or less 250 graduating students of Kiamba National High School in Kiamba, Sarangani Province today, 23 March 2010.

JSCC Sarangani Launches Bantay Eleksyon 2010 Volunteers

The Sarangani Joint Security Control Center (JSCC) composed of Sarangani COMELEC, Sarangani PNP, and 73rd Infantry Battalion, formally launched on March 13, 2010 the citizens volunteers for honest, orderly, peaceful, immediate, and accurate election with Kiamba as its pilot area. Other towns of Sarangani will follow. The social mobilization program aims to call upon the different sectors to be partners of COMELEC, PNP, and AFP in monitoring election problems and violations. The volunteers shall provide information from the communities and also be the partners in educating the electorate. They will be given orientation by the COMELEC.

Love for Environment

One thousand seedlings were planted along the 7km stretch highway of Kiamba, Sarangani Province last feb 13, 2010 by volunteers student, barangay folks, policemen, and soldiers. The NEUTRALIZERs, in coordination with the Municipal Government of Kiamba, the Notre Dame of Kiamba, Kiamba Central High School, the Bureau of Fire Protection-Kiamba, Kiamba Municipal Police Station, and the DENR, led a multi-sectoral tree-planting activity dubbed as "Isang Libong Puno sa Araw ng mga Puso". The event's theme: "Kalikasa'y mahalin, bagong henerasyon may mamanahin" was meant to dedicate the trees to the youth.

Valentines "Boodlefight"

The NEUTRALIZERS spent their Valentines Day with the kids of Brgy Pananag, Maasim, Sarangani Province on Feb 14, 2010. Co-sponsored by Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr., around 300 muslim kids joined the "boodlefight" with 73IB troopers, the Army's self-styled "kanduli". The kids were happy to have experienced the military's "boodlefight", the traditional way of expressing unity and solidarity.

4 NPA Extortionists Wounded in Clash with 73IB

Four (4) New People’s Army (NPA) bandits under alias Ron-Ron of the Alex Ababa Gang which has been threatening the people living in the hinterlands of Alabel and Malapatan, both of Sarangani Province and parts of Davao del Sur, were seriously wounded after two series of gun battles with Army troopers of 73rd Infantry Battalion (73IB) at Bgy Little Baguio, Malita, Davao del Sur last Feb 20 and 22. Nobody was hurt among the troopers.

During the first engagement, the wounded gangsters escaped towards forested area but were engaged again after troops utilized bloodhound K-9 dogs to track them down through the blood stains seen along the trails. Troops of 73IB and 39IB under the operational supervision of 1002nd Bde continue to track them down as of this report.
Responding to information provided by political candidates that they have received extortion demands from communist bandits in the form of permit-to-campaign (PTC) and permit-to-win (PTW) fees, troops of 73IB visited far-flung barangays in an effort to verify the reports. A local candidate who yielded to their demand reportedly provided combat boots and foodstuffs to the bandits in return for the candidate’s being allowed to campaign in the hinterlands. The encounter transpired right after the rebels received the items. The local terrorists extort money or material from political aspirants in the form of PTC and PTW fees. With PTC, NPA bandits allow candidates to roam around what they claim to be their controlled territories. With PTW, on the other hand, bandits assure political candidates of votes from upland people. These bandits intimidate the voters and dictate upon them to vote only those who paid permit-to-win fee.

In a statement, 73IB Commander LTCol Edgardo De Leon said, “We will not allow the NPA gangsters to disturb the free exercise of suffrage in our area of responsibility. We will continue to protect the democratic rights of the people to choose their leader and vote freely. We also would like to encourage candidates not to be afraid in reporting extortion demands coming from the bandits. The money or material support they would give them would just contribute to the continuing existence of communist terrorism in our country”.

Our Home

The 73rd Infantry (NEUTRALIZER) Battalion finally found its home at Sitio Tampuan, Brgy Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province. It is located at a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Sarangani Bay.

Impact of ECOZONE on the Security of MaKiMa

Speech of LtCol Edgardo Yao De Leon

Battalion Commander, 73rd Infantry Battalion

during the

Congressional Public Hearing on Special Economic Zone 

Kiamba, Sarangani Province, September 3, 2009

The Distinguished members of the House Committee on Economic Affairs, good morning.  It has been a year since our battalion was redeployed to Sarangani Province from Davao del Norte in response to the atrocities committed by lawless MILF Group (LMG) that intruded the province late last year. The series of military operations effectively diminished the LMGs capability to launch further atrocity and drove them out of the province after army units successfully seized their encampments and strongholds in Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum. The last major engagement was the 2-day skirmishes on September 12 and 13 last year wherein their main camp called Camp Khalid bin Walid was seized by our troops. Mopping up operations continue resulting to minor engagements with their remnants in the hinterlands. In those operations, we have seized firearms, discovered and dugged out their pre-positioned logistics, and captured their leaders.  For now, our efforts are focused on the promotion of a culture of peace among the tri-people of Sarangani in partnership with the local government units and NGOs. 9-man teams immerse the conflict-affected brgys, mingle with the people, exerting efforts to win the people’s hearts and minds and trying our best to determine what motivated the local people to support, if not join, the rebels.   Our troops went house to house to get the sentiments of the people in conflict-affected bgys, particularly in the Municipality of Maasim, where we discovered their main camp. The following were the significant findings, as motivating factors for rebellion, among others:

• The present sources of income of rural folks are not enough to earn a decent living. 
• Out-of-school youths have joined the rebels. Financial difficulty as the main reason for parents to stop sending their children to school, especially after elementary education. 
• Non-muslim lumads sympathize with the rebels. Most of them eat less than 3 meals a day. During conflicts, they swarm evacuation centers to join the prey for relief goods, even if they are far from the conflict-affected areas. They opt to stay long even after the conflicts not because of fear, but because of the available relief goods.  

With this situation, the local government makes the necessary intervention. We have been bringing to the MLGU and the PLGU these concerns and they have been very supportive. However, the problem persists, not because the local government units are not cognizant, but because of budgetary and resource limitations. Similarly situated with the households, the income of the local government units are not enough to deliver services that will somehow satisfy the needs of their constituents. Hence, hard for them to address the plight of the people, the condition that is exploited by rebel groups to gain adherents from among the local people.  This reality proves the point that security and economic development are inseparable. Yes, for the past 12 months, our deployment in the province helped bring back to normalcy the peace and order situation. The question we have to answer however is, how to sustain the relative peace that we are in now, if the motivating factors for rebellion remain. The local government has to take aggressive move to address the roots of rebellion. But with limited resources brought about by low revenues, the local government units are having difficulty addressing them. If Sarangani Ecozone will push through, as I understand it based on my initial readings of the project, economic activity will increase, eventually raising the income of the constituents, as well as providing more revenues to the local government units.   If Sarangani Ecozone will push through, the people of Sarangani, particularly MaKiMa, will be preoccupied with doing business and participating in whatever opportunity to earn a living, instead of being dependent on government, and take up arms against the supposed providers whenever dissatisfaction arises.  If Sarangani Ecozone will push through, the provincial and municipal governments units would not solely be reliant from the limited IRA provided by the national government. With projected locally-generated revenues, the LGUs would be empowered to deliver quality social services and would be able to fully perform their functions that were devolved from the national government.  Hence, we in the security sector are optimistic that if Sarangani Ecozone will push through, the people will be economically empowered and LGUs would better off to provide good governance, both which are essential elements for SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE PROVINCE.  So therefore, the 73^rd Infantry Battalion, as the AFP representative in the province, joins the people of Sarangani in appealing from the Honorable Members of this Committee for support to the creation of the Sarangani Economic Zone.  Thank you and Good Day.

Note: The public hearing was presided by Congressman Ramon “Red” Durano VI, Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Affairs, House of Representatives. Other congressmen present were Hon. Marc Douglas Cagas IV of Davao del Sur, Hon Jesus Crispin Remulla of Cavite, Hon Antonio Lagdameo of Davao del Norte, and Hon Ronald Singson of Ilocos Sur. Among the speakers during the public hearing were Gov Miguel Rene Dominguez of Sarangani Province and representatives from the different sectors of the province. The members of the House Committee were convinced and pledged to support the enactment of the law establishing the Special Economic Zone in Sarangani.