“I am offering forgiveness to those who did it,” Sosmena, 47th Infantry Battalion commander, said. At the same time, he said, he is also asking forgiveness from those they have hurt, while they were doing their mandated tasks.

About 1,700 people yesterday attended a March for Peace rally here, with local government officials headed by Mayor John Rey Tabujara and Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara among them.

Representatives from local government officials, the academe, the youth, religious, women and security sectors, took turns in calling for an end to violence in Cauayan.

With all the messages of peace, Sosmena said, “We cannot proceed, if we will not forgive each other. “Let’s take a fresh step towards peace”, he added.

Admitting that the ambush of Esguerra has an effect on the town’s peace and order and its economy, Tabujara called on those in the mountains who are taking arms against the government, to help in the development of the town.

There is no progress as long as there is fighting, Tabujara said.

Esguerra,27, and his group were on a peace and development mission in Brgy. Basak, Cauayan, when ambushed by suspected NPA rebels on March 6.

The slain Army officer was described d by the peace rally participants as a “hero of Cauayan”, and also posted their messages of peace in tarpaulins displayed at the municipal gym.

The younger brother of Esguerra, incoming 2Lt. Edgardo Esguerra Jr., is graduating at the Philippine Military Academy on March 18. He is also joining the Philippine Army.

Sosmena said he is encouraging his fellow soldiers to erase hatred from their hearts. Hopefully, they will take the lead and continue to perform their job as if nothing happened, he added.

He said the government is very serious in its quest for peace and hopefully, it will start at a local setting.

"I hope and pray that his (Esguerra) blood will wash away the obstacles to peace, for all of us to live in tranquility," he added.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has deployed and mobilized nine Peace and Development Teamsto help local government units in identifying solutions to problems of conflict-affected communities in the hinterlands of Cauayan .

Esguerra was among the PDT members deployed in far-flung areas of Cauayan.

During a program at the Cauayan Arts Center, Mayor Tabujara, assisted by his father, Vice-Mayor Jerry Tabujara, presented a copy of the resolution, approved by the Sangguniang Bayan on March 14, expressing their support to the 47th IB, 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion and the peace and development initiatives of various stakeholders.

Among those who gave messages of peace were Pastors Wiledito Cose and William Colimbo, Youth representative John Patrick Onggao, rebel returnee Joseph Erlan Tarino, NSCA director Dr. Evangeline Perez, Maristella Ponce de Belen, foster mother of Lt. Esguerra, Fathers Melicio Parcon and Jun Estoque.* GPB

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