8ID joins the commemoration of 114th Philippine Independence Day

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan Samar – The 8th Infantry (Storm Troopers) Division, Philippine Army joins the whole nation in celebrating the 114th  Philippine Independence  with the theme “Kalayaan; Pananagutan ng Bayan para sa Tuwid na Daan”

BGen Gerardo T Layug, Commander, 8ID, PA leads the officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees during the flag raising ceremony held at Headquarters, 8ID, PA stationed at Camp Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan City.

The highlight of the celebration is the reading of message from General Jessie D Dellosa, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff which states that “We commemorate with honor and pride the roots of our nation’s journey to realize our people’s dreams and aspirations. Throughout our history, Filipino men and women have fought for freedom and independence. We honor and remember today these lives dedicated in achieving and safeguarding our sovereignty and territorial integrity.  As we celebrate this day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines renews its pledge to protect and defend the Filipino nation and our national way of life. We commit to continue the fight of our forefathers to achieve lasting peace, protect our territorial integrity, and be one with our people in attaining national development”

“The 8ID, Philippine Army will carry on the ideals and aspirations of the military forefathers in achieving Independence for our country. Thus, we shall continue to bring peace in order to attain development through the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ together with the support of all stakeholders in the region” Layug said.

Samar province taps various agencies to support former rebels

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan Samar – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army participated in the Resource Mapping Activity as part of the Local Integration Program (LIP) of the Provincial Government of Samar on June 8, 2012 at the Governor’s Office, Provincial Capitol, Catbalogan City.

 

            The resource mapping intends to tap government and private agencies in identifying available services within their respective organizations to be included in the LIP package for former rebels.

 

            Part of the activity is the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Local Social Integration Plan of Samar with Ltcol Cerilo C Balaoro Jr, Commander, 87IB heading the 8ID delegation. The activity was also attended by representatives from PSWDO, PPO PNP, Department of Health, Office of the Governor, TESDA, DEPED, DILG, CSO of Samar and Ms Emy Bantillo of OPAPP.

 

            Recently, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Samar had passed a resolution adopting the Comprehensive Local Integration Program as the Local Social Integration Framework of the Province and created/functionalized the Joint Validation and Authentication Committee under Executive Order No. 02, Series of 2012 as a sub-committee of the Samar Provincial Peace and Order council. 28 April 2012, Adoption of Comprehensive Integrated Program

 

            “The 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army will fully support the Local Integration Program of the Provincial Government of Samar in order to attain a genuine peace in the Province” BGen Gerardo T Layug, Commander, 8ID, PA said. “We also call on the rebels who want to join the peace and development efforts of the government to avail of the Provincial Government’s Program” for former rebels,” added Layug.

 

            In Northern Samar, the Provincial Government also passed an Ordinance 05 series of 2011, granting monetary rewards to facilitators of voluntary surrender of any CT member last May 2011. The ordinance is part of the Local Integration Program of the Province.

Youth Leadership Program Key to Peace and Development

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – The 8^th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army in conjunction with the DepEd-Alternative Learning System, Holy Child Parish Youth Ministry and Villaba Vocational High School (VVHS) conducted a three-day Youth Leadership Summit from June 1-3, 2012  at Villaba Vocational High School, Villaba, Leyte.

            The YLS is a joint program of the military, LGU and other stakeholders which aims to develop the leadership skills of the youth leaders; raise the level of awareness on their roles, responsibilities, powers and functions as organization officers; improve their knowledge, skills and concepts on governance, health, environment; advocate and promote peace and become productive youth leaders in their respective communities.

            The activity was also sponsored by Mr. Janby Earl Yu, co-founder of Michelle Mulet-Yu Foundation which fully supports the program of the youth. Mr Yu expressed his sincere gratitude to the 19^th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac for the success of the youth activity. 100 youth coming from the Holy Child Parish Youth Ministry and out of school youth from Villaba, Leyte participated in the 3-day event.

            The 3-day activity focused on lectures about leadership; environmental protection and conservation; and Crime and Drug awareness. Aside from the lectures provided, a series of team building activities were done in order to develop the skills, camaraderie and strategy of the youth in surmounting all obstacles and challenges. To conclude the event, a project planning workshop was made focusing on the needed projects to be implemented in their respective community. 

            In his statement BGen Gerardo T Layug AFP, Commander, 8ID, PA said “YLS is part of the priority programs of 8ID in line with the AFP’s ‘Bayanihan’ efforts because we believe that educating our youth leaders is very vital to the success of the government’s peace and development initiatives.”

            The YLS in Villaba was the second major activity facilitated by the 19^th Infantry Battalion in the Province of Leyte. Last 18 – 20 May 2012, 19IB together with the LGU of Carigara conducted the first ever YLS in Leyte.

DENR, PNP & 8ID JOIN HANDS TO CURVE ILLEGAL LOGGING IN REGION 8

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – A total of 391 pcs of assorted good lumber with a total estimate of 3,250 board feet from illegally cut logs were confiscated by the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division (8ID), Philippine Army (PA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Philippine National Police (PNP) from January to May 2012.

            The anti-illegal logging campaign in Eastern Visayas is a joint effort of 8ID, PNP and DENR, which resulted to the confiscation of  21,131 bd ft of illegally cut  logs with an estimate value of Php 781,847 in calendar year 2011.

         Under EO No. 23, a moratorium was declared on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and the creation of anti-illegal logging task force was mandated. The local DENR is designated as the head of the task force, while AFP and PNP units are lead agencies in confiscating illegally cut logs and illegal saw l mills.

             

            “We will support the DENR in their Anti-Illegal Campaign as mentioned in EO No. 23 through confiscation of illegally cut logs and saw mills in the Division Area of Responsibility” said BGen Gerardo T Layug, Commander, 8ID, PA”.

            Layug added that the Army, PNP and DENR will continue its effort in protecting our forests and will also intensify its tree growing activities to conserve our endangered forests while pursuing sustainable development in the area.  

SAMAR KIDS RECEIVE SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan Samar – Army troops provided manpower assistance to GMA Kapuso Foundation Project dubbed as “Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan” (UHSK) during the distribution of school supplies to six (6) Municipalities in the Province of Samar on May 22-24, 2012.

The UHSK project aims to distribute backpacks with school supplies to incoming Grade 1 pupils from the most remote and under privileged areas nationwide and assist the parents in enrolling their children to Grade school.

Elements of the 801^st Infantry (Bantay at Gabay) Brigade, 8^th Infantry Division (8ID), Philippine Army (PA) under the leadership of Col Romeo L Labador led the Army troops in the distribution of school supplies to incoming Grade 1 pupils in the  Municipalities of  Pinabacdao, Calbiga, San Sebastian, San Jose De Buan, Daram and Talalora all of Samar Province.

The Provincial DepEd, Local Government Units and cause oriented groups also participated in the said activity. A total of 118 sacks and boxes of school supplies and goods where distributed to the beneficiaries.

“The 8ID is committed to provide all out support and assistance to all LGUs, cause-oriented groups and private organizations in delivering basic services to the communities of Samar,” said BGen Gerardo T Layug, Commander, 8ID, PA.

       “We believe that education is one of the solutions to the root causes of insurgency and activities like this will surely help put an end to the insurgency problem in the area and pave the way for development. I also enjoin all stakeholders to give their share and join the peace and development efforts of the government,” added Layug.

MORE NPA CAMPS DISCOVERED IN SAMAR AND LEYTE

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City –  Four (4) more NPA camps were discovered by the 8^th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division (8ID), Philippine Army (PA) troops in different locations in Samar and Leyte.

            In an earlier report, the Army stated that from January to date five (5) NPA camps were seized after an encounter, while more or less 40 abandoned NPA camps were discovered in Samar and Leyte Island, which indicates that the rebels are always on the run to avoid pursuing government troops.

On May 19, 2012 composite troops coming from 81^st Division Reconnaissance Company and Cafgu Active Auxiliary from Bravo Company, 52^nd IB led by 1Lt Michael N Madayag recovered another rebel encampment at vicinity Brgy Gecboan, Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar which can accommodate 70 people. On May 22, 2012, elements of Charlie Company, 78^th Infantry Battalion, 8ID, PA under 2Lt Mojahiden C Guimadel also discovered an abandoned rebel encampment at vicinity Jaro – Ormoc boundary which can contain 20 rebels. In addition, the latest recovered camp by the government troops happened on May 21, 2012 by the elements of Bravo Company, 19^th Infantry Battalion under 2Lt Frederick Julius Mariano Dela Cruz at vicinity Sitio Kanbalantaw, Brgy Canhandugan, Jaro, Leyte which can accommodate 30 NPAs. Further, on May 29, 2012 elements of 87^th IB under 2Lt Verniel D Semblante recovered enemy encampment at vicinity Brgy Caulayan, Motiong, Samar which can contain around 20 terrorist NPA members.

The camps are being utilized by the NPA as staging areas for their terroristic acts such as land mine production which is a clear violation on Comprehensive Agreement on Respect to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

             In his statement, BGen Gerardo T Layug, Commander, 8ID, PA said that the Army will continuously conduct focused military operations in the identified lairs of the NPA in order to establish a peaceful environment and allow development to come-in, especially in the remote areas. “As our military operations continue, I instructed my men to strictly follow the Rule of Law and put the safety our people as the primary consideration,” Layug said. Layug also reiterated his call for the NPA members to lay down their arms and join the government in finding a peaceful solution to the insurgency problem in the region.