Video File: Col. Gilbert I. Gapay, Brigade Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry "Magbalantay" Brigade, Philippine Army, delivered a message during the MOA signing of CPMAG.
CPMAG sign MOA to step up peace and order, security concerns in Lanao
Iligan City, July 16, 2015 – Peace and order, and Security
concerns was the battle-cry in the creation of the Church-Police-Military
Advisory Group (CPMAG) in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. This was
conceptualized by the 2nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalanatay”
Brigade, Philippine Army, as part of the Internal Peace and Security Program
(IPSP)-Bayanihan. Col. Felicisimo C.
Budiongan, Deputy commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade,
said that the purpose of the CPMAG is to strengthen security by providing
public safety in Lanao del Norte including Iligan City. Budiongan said that The
CPMAG was created and organized to come up with a group to put actions together,
because of the need to have a coordinated effort for peace and development for
the best interest of the people. The CPMAG was organized in its first meeting
on March 10, 2015 at the function hall of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade
headquarter with the presence of Church leaders, the Philippine national Police
(PNP) of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.
 |
| At left, Col. Felicisimo C. Budiongan |
 |
| PSSUPT Madid M. Paitao |
PSSUPT Madid M. Paitao, Provincial Director, Lanao
del Norte, in his message said that peace and order is everybody’s concern. He
said the CPMAG will give more strength in serving the people of Lanao del
Norte. The CPMAG is a forward step of fulfilling the Patrol 2013 in close
coordination with the Military and other stakeholders to secure and protect the
people of Lanao del Norte.
PSSUPT Raul A. Benitez, Officer-in-charge, Iligan
City Police, said upon assumption of office of the Iligan City Police Office
(ICPO), the crime volume increases and the peace and order situation is very volatile
due to the presence of the organized crime groups. Benitez said that most of
the crimes happened in Iligan City were drug related. He said the signing of
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the CPMAG is a big help in solving peace and
order problems with the participation of other stakeholders, like the church,
non-government organizations (NGOs) and others. Benitez said that peace and
order can be achieved through consolidated efforts.
 |
| Rev. Fr. Rosito M. Claro |
Rev. Fr. Rosito M. Claro, NPC San Roque Chaplaincy,
Ditucalan, Iligan City, represents Bishop Elenito D. Galido, Diocese of Iligan
City, said that Bishop Galido was not around for prior schedule, extended his
thanks and appreciation that the Diocese of Iligan is part of the CPMAG concerning
peace and order, security in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. Fr. Claro said that the
creation of CPMAG is very important because nowadays Iligan City and Lanao del
Norte were confronted with problems on criminalities such as kidnapping,
carnapping, drugs and other crimes. He was mentioning about the just recently
ambush happened victimizing the military. Fr. Claro said he is hoping that the
CPMAG will help a lot in answering these problems and work hand-in-hand to achieve its goals. He
said more hands will give more powers and delighted actions in solving
problems. He said “with the help of the Almighty God, we will be the instruments
of peace as we continue to serve our people.” Fr. Claro said that the peace and
order situation and security in Iligan City and lanao del Norte already
affected the living condition of the people due to the presence of illegal drugs,
kidanapping, carnapping and other criminalities. He is hoping that CPMAG can
help address the situation. He said that the role of the Church in the CPMAG will
ask guidance from the Holy Spirit to unite the stakeholders to address the
peace and order and security problems.
 |
| Col. Gilbert I. Gapay |
Col. Gilbert I. Gapay in his message, extend his
thanks and appreciation to the newly organized CPMAG led by the effort of Col.
Budiongan. He said CPMAG is very important to address security, peace and order situation besetting Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. The existing
problems of criminalities in the areas of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte such kidnapping, lingering
anti-insurgency, internal security and peace and order problems. Gapay said in
general analysis the problems are rooted on socio-cultural and socio-economic
issues, like the unemployment and decaying values among youth and in the civil
society as a whole and need on strengthening hands for the spirituality and
morality in the society. There is a necessity on this endeavor because this is
in line of the IPSP Bayanihan program of the Military. It is envisioned to have
a multi-stakeholder and multi-dimensional approach in conflict resolution in
addressing the social ills and divides.
 |
| MOA signing on CPMAG |
The CPMAG is a very important group as
far as advocacy is concern, generating social pressure to address security problems
and reiterated a catalyst for social change. The CPMAG will enhance the public information,
education and advocacies and in the forefront in the furtherance of
socio-cultural and other development efforts in the government. Gapay said that
the CPMAG will be expanded to the other institutions an interfaith approach including
Muslim brothers to address also the rising extremism and radicalism in Islam trying
to pollute the minds of the youth. The CPMAG will play an important factor and
prime mover in addressing the emerging dimension. The CPMAG will function as
envisioned in the MOA to help the civil authorities not only on the security
programs but also in the developmental efforts especially in the areas of strengthening
the moral fibers.
 |
| Wild cat press conference after the CPMAG MOA signing |
In another development, Col. Gapay felt dismay over
the dismissal of the case of the arrest of a driver implicated in the ambush on
July 13 due to lack of probable cause, as to the decision of the prosecutors in
Lanao del Norte. He said what kind of probable cause they needed when one of
the military was killed and wounded six others. Gapay said that the driver and
the vehicle were clearly identified by their men and it was stated in their
affidavits. Despite those strong evidences the prosecutors ruled out lack of
probable cause and unlawful arrest and he said what kind of grounds to become
lawful. Gapay said that the wounded Military cannot go to the prosecutors’
office and instead the prosecutors should go to the hospital to get affidavits.
Gapay said that there is no due process on the part of the Military and he said
that there is an alleged corruption in handling this case. Affidavits of the
witnesses were produced from the wounded Military and submitted to the Prosecutors’
office in few days’ time after the ambush incident, but the suspect driver was
already freed.
 |
| At left, Capt Doroteo, emcee, & the Battalion Commanders |
Gapay said there were two vehicles seen in the crime
scene during the ambush, a pick-up and a toyota revo vehicles. The passengers
in the pick-up vehicles engaged in a shootout with the Military then transferred to the
Toyota revo as exit vehicle. Upon apprehended the vehicle and arrested the
driver, the passengers were no longer to be found. Gapay said that the driver
is noted suspects in many crimes. Gapay said that the Toyota revo they used was
found out to be a carnapped vehicle from Cagayan de Oro City and the owner of
that vehicle was also killed. Gapay said they will still pursue of filing the
case in court to put perpetrators in the bar of Justice. He is calling the
Prosecutors to be fair of their case but still believed on the Justice system in the
government. Reports & Photos by Jun Enriquez
No comments:
Post a Comment