ZDS Provincial Legal Office and Army’s 53rd IB Launch PTF-ELCAC Legal Cooperation Cluster
The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry (Matapat) Battalion (53IB) conducted the Launching and Meeting of the ZamboSur Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) Legal Cooperation Cluster on September 28, 2020 at 53rd IB Headquarters, Camp Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.
The said activity had the PTF-ELCAC Legal Cooperation Cluster Atty. Jackielyn Krystyl Nehama Bana as the keynote speaker.
Thoughts about legal cooperation and efforts on legal offensive were presented by 53rd IB, ZamboSur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency – Regional Office 9 (NICA-IX).
A lecture on Executive Order 70 which was delivered by Mr. Ruel Trobanos from ZDS DILG, the PTF-ELCAC Focal Person, and a lecture on Anti-Terrorism Law was also delivered by Army’s 1st Infantry Division Judge Advocate, 2Lt. Rhoebe Paez.
ZamboSur Board Member and SB Chair for Peace and Order Hon. John Regala reiterated the importance of peace and order in the province.
“The province appreciates the efforts of 53rd IB and their role in maintaining the peace and order. Without such, nothing can be materialized,” said BM Regala.
On a statement given by the Keynote Speaker Atty. Jackie Bana, “We will be the heart and the soul: we will give meaning. Without this cooperation and convergence, it will be just EO70. It will be just a law.”
53rd IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said it needs to have convergence with the Legal Cooperation Cluster to further its efforts against Communist-NPA terrorists.
“This is the first time this happened, and the Legal Cooperation Cluster of ELCAC is indeed a great help in our campaign against Communist-NPA Terrorists,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.
Attendees of the said meeting were members of the ZAMBOSUR PTF-ELCAC LEGAL COOPERATION CLUSTER, Provincial Legal Officers, other PNP units and Municipal Legal Officers in 53rd IB’s area of operations; 547th Engineer Battalion Commanding Officer Col. Emerito Pineda, and 1st CMO Battalion Commanding Officer Lt. Col. John Andrada.