Author: Mike Malacad

Manila – The Philippine Army are now evolving into a more multi-role organization that answers to the different challenges in our country and community. As we improve the capability of our soldiers in warfighting, we also evolve our way in facilitating the development, reintroducing the government services and bridging the gap between the Local governments and the Far-Flung Communities in conflict affected areas. The Community Support Program is one of the tools in bringing-back the people to the good side of the government and prevent the infiltration of the local Communist terrorists that exploits every community. This program also empowers the community with the help of our soldiers together with the Local Government and other agencies that shows the good collaboration to address the different challenges to achieve peace and development.

The Philippine Army crafted the Community Support Program Best Practices in Eastern Mindanao Command. These are the compilations of stories, best practices, lessons learned, and innovations of the Community Support Program particularly in the Eastern Mindanao Command AOR. This Project compensated the efforts of the government and its program, which is the EO 70 (INSTITUTIONALIZING THE WHOLE-OF -NATION APPROACH IN ATTAINING INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE, CREATING A NATIONAL TASK FORCE TO END LOCAL COMMUNIST ARMED CONFLICT, AND DIRECTING THE ADOPTION OF A NATIONAL PEACE FRAMEWORK), to counter the insurgency problem in our country and harbor peace and development in every community.

It also includes a special chapter on Peace 911, a successful program that addressed the insurgency in Paquibato, Davao City. Paquibato has long been considered a battleground between the military and the Local Communist Terrorist. Its hinterlands have been a stronghold of NPA leader Leoncio Pitao, the elusive Kumander Parago whose been the most wanted NPA during his time before he was killed last 28 June 2015. With the full effort of the Army and the Local Government, Paquibato was brought back to the arms of government giving the people back to true democracy and freedom from the Local Communist Terrorist.

Please click the link below to understand more about The Community Support Program and be involved in changing our community to a more peaceful and developed place to live in.

https://www.army.mil.ph/orc-home/images/pdf-files/csp/community-support-program-best-pratices-in-eastern-mindanao-command-aor.pdf

Dumaguete, Negros Oriental – For decades, the Visayas Region has been a hot spot for youth and students recruitments for local armed groups trying to topple down the democratic government and run it on their way. The local people witnessed how the so-called revolutionary struggle destroyed the promising future of youth and students from different schools and universities, which deprived their families and our country a hope for a better future.

The Negros Oriental State University organized a Campus Peace and Development Symposium as an effort to stop the further recruitments inside and outside the campus targeting the youth and students and to educate and spare the students from the lies and deceit of any dubious group and organization.

About 4,500 college freshmen and ROTC/NSTP students attended the symposium as LTC SAMUEL G YUNQUE shared his insights and experiences in the Battle of Marawi especially his knowledge on enemy propaganda activities, organizing schemes, and battlefield tactics. His lecture was integral to be able to enlighten the youth and students on the hazards of violent extremism and to help them be positive contributors to the peace and development efforts of the government.   

FSRR, PA Camp Tecson, San Miguel Bulacan – The Scout Ranger Battalion has a great contribution on the overall victory of the Joint Task Force Marawi during the Marawi Siege. It is then rightful to share their impeccable achievements and innovations during the battle to the future scout rangers for them to be inspired and learn from these events. Sharing these lessons learned and best practices from the Battle of Marawi will be significant on future similar instances.

On July 29, 2019, the Chief of the Operations Research Center, LTC SAMUEL YUNQUE, conducted an advocacy regarding Marawi and Beyond: The JTF Marawi Story at the FSRR, PA Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan.

The lecture was attended by students of the Scout Ranger Class as LTC YUNQUE discussed about the dynamics of the urban operations, the uniqueness of the urban environment, and the tactical innovations and strategies utilized during the Battle of Marawi. He then furtherly discussed on the importance of the leadership and the creativity of the commanders on coming up with different tactical innovations in a complicated operational environment.

• Taguig City – On the 2^nd of May 2019, LTC SAMUEL G YUNQUE together with CPT MICHAEL MALACAD and other personnel met up with the Representatives of the US Library of Congress; Dr. Carol Mitchell, Field Director for Southeast Asia of the U.S. Library of Congress and Annelyn Lim, Head of the Manila Office.

Prior to the meeting, the U.S. Library Congress humbly requested copies of military related literatures available in the center, especially, the Marawi and Beyond: The Joint Task Force Marawi Story. These books that they would be able to acquire will be added to the Library’s collection which will be readily available for the international scholars and readers, policy-makers, and Filipinos residing abroad. These would supply them with the information regarding the Philippine environment, economic, political, and socio-cultural life.

The Operations Research Center gladly donated: two (2) Marawi and Beyond: The JTF Marawi Story mother books, one (1) No Man Left Behind, and one (1) external set of the Marawi and Beyond. In return, the U.S. Library of Congress representatives donated several politically related books for the center’s reference. Furthermore, both parties were able to built  good rapport with each other; U.S Library of Congress are open to supply references for the center’s future endeavors and for the center to provide book copies in the future book launches for the international readers.