53rd IB Commends Partnership, Convergence with PNP in ENding NPA Terrorism

The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) presented a Letter of Commendation to members of Guipos Municipal Police Station (MPS) in a simple ceremony held on November 2, 2020 at 53rd IB Headquarters, Camp Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

53rd IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera awarded the Letters of Commendation to the members of Guipos MPS led by their Chief of Police, PMaj. Robert Agda.

Guipos PNP has been the unit’s partner in Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) Immersions in barangays Datagan and Dalapan of Guipos.

Barangays Datagan and Dalapan were the two conflict-affected barangays In Guipos town. These barangays were declared as “cleared” of Communist-NPA Terrorist influence after the Army’s Community Support Program (CSP) in said barangays finished in 2018.

Aimed at addressing the root causes of insurgency, RCSP is one of the Government’s strategy in implementing the whole-of-nation approach in attaining “inclusive and sustainable peace” in the country. 

RCSP also facilitates the delivery of basic government services to address the issues determined during the CSP.

As part of the Guipos Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC), Guipos PNP actively participated in the recently conducted RCSP Immersion spearheaded by DILG-Zamboanga del Sur together with the Municipal Government of Guipos headed by MTF-ELCAC Chairperson and Mayor Hon. Vicente Cajeta.

According to Lt. Col. Herrera, the great collaboration and convergence among government units is the key to achieving inclusive and sustainable peace.

PMaj. Agda in his message thanked the 53rd IB for the recognition, saying that the Guipos PNP will continue to deliver its mandate of serving and protecting the people of Guipos.

The activity was followed by a tree planting ceremony held at the Matapat Firing Range.