Army officer believes barangay officials’ vital role in achieving peace

By JAZMIN R. BONIFACIO
July 9, 2012

BALILIHAN, Bohol  –  “Barangay officials and tanods holds a vital role in achieving peace and order in Samar and Leyte, should they only be given a chance to perform well with their functions.”

This was the reaction made by Cpt. Elmer A. Namocat, commanding officer of the 4th Special Forces Company, previously assigned in Brgy. Abuyogon, Burauen Leyte now based in Brgy Baucan Sur, Balilihan, Bohol.

The 4th Special Forces Company, under the 2nd SF battalion remain steadfast in its mandate of totally eradicating insurgency problem in order to maintain peace and development in Bohol.

They as well adopted programs and activities aimed to uplift the well being of the people in the areas presently entrusted to them.

Cpt. Namocat told Samarnews.com that aside from recent implementation of Countryside Development Programs in connection with the Purok Power Movement Program of Bohol Province / IPSP Bayanihan Program of the government to where they recently deployed their members of the Prosperity Team from the SF (army) personnel, they as well conducted various medical and dental civic actions activities, and most importantly, is the implementation of the Integrated Territorial Defense System (ITDS) for the barangay populace in Bohol under the Barangay Security System.

He further disclosed that such programs and activities are being undertaken in coordination with different stakeholders such as the local government units, non-government organizations, people’s organizations and local chief executives, irrespective of their political affiliations having that common end of rendering service to the people.

“Govt officials, the people itself of Bohol supports the programs, a major factor why Bohol attained peace, and they do help in maintaining it”, Namocat said.

According to Cpt. Namocat, the Special Forces unit implements ITDS through volunteerism and not by forcing anybody’s involvement. However, since said program aimed to safeguard the barangay from intrusion of terroristic groups and was conceptualized in the spirit of bayanihan system that solicit  support  from other  stakeholders to make it fully work as a system.

“Barangay officials and Brgy tanods played vital role in BSS program, nababantayan nila ang sarili nilang barangay”, Cpt. Namocat said.

It was learned that ITDS was also implemented by the 4th Special Forces Unit in the villages of Burauen Leyte.

“The ITDS was effective and we are so very thankful for the great support of Mayor Fe Renomeron and to the people itself of Burauen, even for a very short span of stay in the place they made it through for the success of our programs and activities in the area,” Namocat told SamarNews.com.

To recall, the 4th Special forces previously assigned here in Leyte, formed a team for their Civil Military Operations in Burauen, Julita, La Paz, Mayorga, Dulag, MacArthur, Javier  and Abuyog all in Leyte.

Cpt Namocat is appealing to the local chief executives and to all people to be vigilant enough and to continue to work hand and hand to achieve peace and ultimately development for the people of Samar, Leyte and Bohol.