PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 10TH INFANTRY (AGILA) DIVISION, PHILIPPINE ARMY Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao

City Contact Number: (082) 235-1041 Press Release December 7, 2011

Residents of Boston Unite for Peace

BOSTON, Davao Oriental Residents of Boston, Davao Oriental convene in front of Boston Municipal Hall on Tuesday morning, December 6, to rally for peace and condemn the atrocities brought by the lawless armed group New Peoples Army (NPA) in their area. More or less 1500 residents joined the activity calling to end insurgency and stop NPAs deceitful actions which has raised terror in communities. Residents experienced series of attacks and harassments perpetrated by the lawless armed group. Part of the activity was planting of Falcata seedlings participated by the teachers of Boston Central Elementary School who planted the seedlings within the schools premises. The said peoples peace rally was made possible thru the initiative of the 67 th Infantry Battalion, in coordination with the provincial government of Davao Oriental, headed by Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Boston, headed by Mayor Rebecco B. Rosit Sr. 67th IB also organized the three-day Peace Building Seminar on December 3-5, 2011. The said seminar was attended by 307 residents coming from eight different barangays of Boston and 18 former rebels, who were once victims of the false promises and ills of communism. This is to promote peace and development in the municipality and to publicly denounce the untruthful and violent activities of the lawless armed group, 67 th IB Commanding Officer Col. Reuben Basiao said. He mentions that the entire Philippine Army has new programs, focusing Peace and Development, using the whole-of-nation approach of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan where all stakeholders in the area are participating and committing for the success of achieving genuine peace towards sustainable development. The singing of Davao Oriental Hymn Banwa na Madayaw highlighted the activity signifying that the people of Boston are united and ready to face new hopes in attaining peace and development in their municipality. Peace is an obligation of the whole community and not only a responsibility of the soldiers. We will attain peace thru cooperation and unity. This will never be possible

if the community is not united and that the people lack awareness of the real intention of the CPP/NPA/NDF. We also thank the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, Local Government of Boston and different Line Government Agencies for the support, not just morally but also financially for the benefit of the developmental projects in Davao Oriental, Basiao said. He also added that Army soldiers are always ready to lend a hand in every possible way to protect and to continue what they have started concerning the Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP) for the past four months in Cateel and Boston, Davao Oriental. Mayor Rosit was very impressed and thankful for the efforts shown by the soldiers of 67IB in developing peace and order as well as development in their municipality and in his words: Pasalamat kita na kining aktibidades nahitabo dinhi sa atong munisipyo, ug nagpasalamat kita sa 67IB headed by Col. Reuben S. Basiao, ug PNP P/Insp. Pedro Gorre. Mga kaigsuunan kong taga-Boston, karon lang nga naay ingani na aktibidades, bagasay ang pasalamat ko sa 67IB na gihatag sila ng Ginoo para sa mga programa para sa Kalinaw ug Kalambuan ug Kadayawan dinhi sa Boston. (We are thankful, especially to 67th IB, headed by Col. Basiao, and PNP P/Insp. Pedro Gorre, for organizing this activity in our municipality. This is the first time that we have experienced an activity like this, thus, we are thankful for being blessed with programs that bring us hope for peace and development.) Eufemio Ombaogan aka TATANG, had a testimony during the program, Kami, mga rebel returnees, nagpasalamat sa LGU ug sa lain-laing departamento diri sa Boston ug 67IB para sa ilahang suporta sa amoa. Gidala mi diri para sa kahayag hantod sa katapusan. Kinahanglan magtinabangay ta para sa kalinaw ug kalambuan. Dako ang pasalamat namo sa 67IB ug LGU sa Boston para sa pagseminar namo ng panginabuhi (Pagfishpond, Pang manukan, Gulayan, Pang-Baboyan) didto sa Mt. Carmel na gitabang sa amoa ng Gobyerno. Kini madayaw na pamaagi. (We, the rebel returnees, are thankful to the LGUs and other sectors and to 67 th IB for their support. We were brought here to be enlightened. Thus, we have to help one another to attain peace and development. We thank 67 th IB and the LGU of Boston for initiating this livelihood seminar (in Mt. Carmel) intended for us by the government.) -30Released by: LTC LYNDON V. PANIZA INF (GSC) PA Spokesperson 10th Infantry Agila Division, Philippine Army Contact # 0917-7110146 Email add: dpao10id@yahoo.com