The commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is asking members of the media to help them reach out to communist rebels to join them in talking peace.
Major Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said President Benigno Aquino III had announced that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front negotiations is bearing fruit.
“We are advocates of peace and we are asking media to help us reach out to our friends, or they will be left out if they do not join us in talking peace,” he said during a seminar workshop at Camp General Macario Peralta Jr. in Jamindan, Capiz, recently.
The activity attended by information officers and non-commissioned officers of major Armed Forces of the Philippines units in Western Visayas and Negros Oriental is part of the Army’s continuing bid to further strengthen its resolve to transparency, accountability and messaging for peace.
Members of the media from Iloilo, Roxas and Bacolod represented by the Negros Press Club and the Defense Press Corps, were also invited to the workshop.
Mabanta, said this is the first time the Division conducted this enormous and detailed undertaking.
“With the breakthrough in the peace negotiation with the MILF, we hope to further equip these soldiers in sending out the message of the government’s sincerity to peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front,” he said.
Mabanta said the right of the people to information about on the Army will always be at the forefront.
“With the talks with the MILF as an example, our continued call for peace hopes to inspire those from the NPA on the government’s faithfulness in working for a peaceful agreement,” Mabanta said.
The activity, with the theme “An Invigorated and Responsive Public Affairs in support to the IPSP Bayanihan, which was attended by Information Officers and NCO’s of major Army and Air Force units within the 3ID area of responsibility, also aims to support the Army Transformation Roadmap.
Mabanta also announced during the activity that they are opening the camp, the third largest military camp in the country, as an alternative ecotourism site in the Island of Panay.*CGS back
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