1ID conducts “Operation Baklas”

KUTA SANG-AN – After successfully securing the historic May 10 elections, the 1^st Infantry (Tabak) Division, Philippine Army under the sterling leadership of MGen Romeo D Lustestica, AFP conducted a 2-day post elections clean-up drive dubbed Operation “Baklas” on the mess left by candidates to restore cleanliness and support the global campaign against climate change.

These were done on May 21, 2010 in 25 barangays of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and on May 25, 2010 in the 44 barangays of Pagadian City, respectively.

The recent local and national elections resulted in the proliferation of campaign materials, including posters, streamers, flyers and billboards along main thoroughfares, structures and buildings that caused eyesores and spreading so much litter everywhere.

Six officers and 131 soldiers from different organic post units of this command to include 9^th Finance Service Unit, 1^st Light Armor Battalion , 9^th Field Artillery Battalion (OPCON Units) , 53^rd IB and 9RDG based in Dao headed by Lt Col Samuel L Leria PA , Deputy, G7 were deployed to conduct the said activity. ROTC cadets and CAFGUs also participated in the clean-up drive. The CAFGUs were in-charge of cleaning in the remote barangays of Lourdes and Lison Valley in Pagadian; and Noburan and Cogonan in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

The “Operation Linis / Baklas” was simultaneously conducted by all units in the field that covers the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City in coordination with concerned government agencies, local government units, and NGOs. The clean-up drive campaign in their respective area of responsibility was done in support to a healthy, orderly and pollution-free environment.

It was their own way of showing to the public how committed they were in their endeavor and expect the local folks will turn up and show their support for a common goal. It can be recalled that the clean-up campaign was in line with a COMELEC resolution aimed at tearing down and removing unlawful and unsightly election materials.

Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co in an interview over local radio station RMN-DXPR was very much grateful to Lustestica and his men for actively leading in the ‘Operation Baklas’.

“I commend MGen. Lustestica for the laudable efforts exerted by his men in removing posters, streamers, billboards and other remnants of the past elections in the main thoroughfares , thereby restoring cleanliness in the city,” Co said.

He, however, said that he was worried for not participating the ‘Operation Baklas’ because after the election, he went abroad with his family for a brief vacation. Despite his absence , he ordered his staff to

send snacks to the soldiers as his gesture of support.

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POC: MAJ ARNOLD L GASALATAN (INF) PA

Chief, DPAO, 1ID, PA

09295658712

Successive encounters in Davao shows NPA has nowhere to go

The series of encounters by government troops in Davao City against the New People’s Army (NPA) shows that the NPA has nowhere to go. Three successive encounters were recorded today in the village of Sibulan in Toril district in Davao City showing our soldiers are on the right track as people have been informing our troops on the presence of terrorists.

Troops of the 5th Scout Ranger Company clashed with NPA terrorists in Sitio Mitondo 9:30 AM and after fifteen minutes, soldiers from the 69th Infantry Battalion engaged another group of terrorists four kilometres away at Sitio Mamaon. In both instances, the NPAs fled and concealed themselves but just like the previous encounters; people informed our troops of their whereabouts.

A few hours after the two successive clashes, troops from the 5th Scout Ranger Company again engaged the NPAs at 1:45 PM in Sitio Mitondo and again the terrorists fled from the fight. Our troops however suffered casualties due to the Improvised Explosive Devise which the terrorist blew-up along the way.

The use of IED by the NPA shows their treacherous method as a terrorist organization. It is an utter disregard to the safety of non-combatants to place IEDs along the way where ordinary people might get hurt as in many previous incidents in the region attest.

Our respect goes to Pfc. Melencio Dalisay who was killed by a terrorist weapon, an IED planted along the way were people also travel. Seven other soldiers were wounded in the blast.

The terrorists have suffered casualties in the series of clashes but have repeatedly denied them as their standard lie to project an image of strength. As in the past, they burry their men in shallow graves in the mountains and deny them of a Christian burial.

While they deny their men of dignity, we will always be proud of our soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice in serving our people as they are and will always be a pride to our country. We cannot and we will not hide our casualties as it is an affront to the dignity of the Filipino fighting men who have served this country with great honor in defense of our people against terrorists. The death of our soldier only embolden the rest of the fighting troops to strive without let-up in bringing to justice those responsible in the attacks against the people.

Today’s events achieved three things:

First, it is clear that our citizens are tired of the anti-people, anti-development and anti-Christian ways of the NPAs thus given the chance; they will fully cooperate with authorities against terrorists;

Second, the reputation of the CPP-NPA-NDF as a terrorist organization was further cemented by their treacherous methods particularly in using IEDs and even planting them along roads (and in some cases, on bridges);

Third, their arrogant display of joy in the death and wounding of soldiers show their callousness and evil intent while the continued denial on their casualties show their disrespect towards their own men.

We will always respect our citizens and we will always respect our own men. The true soldiers of the people will continue to protect the masses even at the sacrifice of their own life so that progress and development can find its way to our communities particularly in the countryside.