CONSTANTLY ENGAGING VULNERABLE SECTORS: 53IB Sustains Community Engagements in Guipos, ZDS

The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) has been maintaining community engagements in the Sitios of Barangay Datagan, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

Community engagements are part of 53IB’s Civil-Military Operations programs to engage the vulnerable sectors in the far flung areas. “The 53IB maintains community engagement to prevent the recovery of mass base support of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the province and to constantly engage the vulnerable sectors in our society,” 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Herrera said.

53IB Charlie Executive Officer 2Lt. Magno Relado Jr. is leading the Matapat Troopers team in the following community engagement activities: flag raising, pulong-pulong, distribution of leaflets, raffle of transistor radio, house to house visitation and distribution of leaflets, discussions about ELCAC and E-Clip, government projects, issues and concerns, and countering communist terrorist groups’ propaganda and recruitment by giving Friends Rescued (FR) testimonies.

The community engagements also include collaborations with Barangay Council Eduardo Evedientes and Barangay Datagan Purok 3 President Leonora Caballero, who have been closely working with the Matapat Troopers to plan for activities intended for the community.

Also, the Matapat Troopers team initiated parlor games to provide entertainment for the children in Barangay Datagan.

“This quality time and engagement activities with the communities in the far-flung area show and tell the communities that we in the government security forces care for them with efforts in giving them awareness against the true enemy,” 2Lt Relado said.