Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto, commanding general of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, yesterday said that the creation of Church Military Advisory Group-Negros that will mark its 3rd founding anniversary today, has established a “very smooth and cooperative” relationship between the Armed Forces and Church officials, especially with the Dioceses of Bacolod, San Carlos, Kabankalan and Dumaguete.

During the Martial Law years, six Negrense priests, among them Frank Fernandez and Luis Jalandoni, went to the mountains and joined the armed struggle against the Marcos dictatorship.

Porto said issues and concerns being raised both by the state security and Church officials are being discussed thoroughly, and jointly solved. “The AFP, PNP and Church are one – that is the beauty of CMAG,” he said.

The CMAG, which has vowed to strengthen its promotion of harmony and working relationship to attain peace in Negros, was organized three years ago when former Armed Forces chief General Victor Ibrado was the commanding general of the AFP Central Command in the Visayas.

It initiated feeding programs in tandem with the Philippine National Police, various local government units and line agencies, as well as non-government and people’s organizations that included medical and dental outreach activities, constructed various infrastructure projects tapping the services of Army engineers, especially in the hinterland areas of Negros island, military records show.

“We now have a robust, harmonious relationship between the Church, military, PNP and local government chief executives,” Porto, who is retiring from the military service on April 4, said.

Asked what the Church has contributed to their peace and development campaign in Negros, Porto said “Cooperative understanding,” adding that they are both looking for a “win-win” solution to all the problems being raised.

CMAG-Negros will mark its third anniversary today with a mass at the St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, with Bishop Jose Advincula Jr. as the main celebrant.

It will be followed by a program at the Parish Pastoral Center, expected to be attended by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon, Dumaguete Bishop John Du, Military Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, AFP Central Command chief, Chief Supts. Ager Ontog and Cipriano Querol, regional police directors of Western and Central Visayas, respectively, and Porto, among others.

Plaques of appreciation will also be awarded to retired Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, Brig. Gen. Gregorio Fajardo, Senior Supt. Manuel Felix and human rights lawyer Francisco Cruz.*GPB

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