An hour with a lawmaker

How do lawmakers make time to attend to their personal aspirations and commitments despite their already demanding professional obligations particularly in representing their constituents in the formulation of laws?

Perhaps, the visit of Congressman Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon to the 104th Infantry Brigade Headquarters gives a peek at how lawmakers use their time and weave through their hectic schedules.

Congressman Biazon of Muntinlupa City came for a visit in Iligan City to grace a social event. He also took the occasion for exchanges with the locals and the city mayor. In that same day of 16 May, he allotted an hour to visit the brigade headquarters as the Senior Vice Chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, and Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare and the Committee on Appropriations.



Accompanied by his wife and his staff, the congressman surveyed the camp with a sense of nostalgia. He revealed having spent his younger years in this area when his father, now Senator Rodolfo Biazon, was earlier posted as a Philippine Marine Officer. He then walked over to the assembled soldiers taking a moment to talk of relevant legislative developments. He was applauded by the troops when he announced the forthcoming salary adjustments to take effect by July of this year. He also informed them of proposed bills to raise combat pay as well as quarter’s allowances of the uniformed services.

He then proceeded to listen to a security situation briefing covering Lanao del Norte; asked questions and took notes which he explained would aid him in his work in Congress. After which, he congratulated the brigade and the troops for restoring the peaceful conditions in the province and in helping build a favorable image of the AFP to the people in the area.

Taking just about an hour with the brigade, the lawmaker was again on his way to his next appointment, but not without seeing Maria Cristina Falls first. Wistfully, he would say it had been awhile since he last saw it. He was pleased to receive news of a group of retired Philippine Marines—who earlier served his father—awaiting his arrival at the entrance to the famous waterfalls.

The visit of Congressman Biazon may be considered short, yet, every moment he spent was worth the while: for him and for those that he honored with his presence.

Reintegrating our wayward brothers

Over the weekend, I joined Major General Romeo Lustestica—Commander of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division—in accepting another batch of former separatist rebels which yielded to one of my forces in Lanao del Norte.

Lt Col Jones Agustin of the 32nd Infantry Battalion presented them along with their firearms to General Lustestica. Later, Lanao del Norte Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo administered the oath of allegiance to the former rebels.

See related articles: PIA, PhilStar, and PA Website.






The former rebels appeared tired, but hopeful of their future. Their leaders who spoke during the ceremony affirmed their plight and justified that they were misled by the MILF. With their defection, they requested that they be given opportunities to serve as policemen or with the CAFGUs, to access scholarship programs including available livelihood packages.

At that time, Governor Dimaporo announced that he is currently working on the similar requests including a proposed resettlement area for the group of Mabaning Lucsadatu, an MILF brigade commander, who surrendered earlier. He reports that initial arrangements have already been done with the Mindanao State University for scholarships. He explains that for the other items, however, certain requirements and legal processes will have to be complied. Nevertheless, the new group cheered when he promised to work on similar packages for them.

Unlike the NPA which are accorded with a Social Integration Program (SIP) for their surrender, MILF rebels don’t have a uniform incentive package prescribed except for the payment of firearms they surrender to government. Other incentives or assistance depend upon the appreciation and resourcefulness of Local Government Executives.
Despite this, the military will continue to welcome and reintegrating our wayward brothers with the help of the different sectors of society if only to hasten their peaceful return to the communities and make them more productive citizens.

Perhaps, we can draw inspiration from the lines in the acceptance speech of General Lustestica which is translated and rephrased—“Let us make this as a model so we can encourage the return to the folds of the government our other brothers who continue to believe in an armed and bloody confrontation. Let us give them and their families a place in our society for them to have peaceful lives under the democracy we enjoy.”

Message of Division Commander

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Welcoming our prodigal brothers

Reminiscent of the story of the “prodigal son,” this time to our Filipino brothers, I along with my division commander and the provincial governor received the group of Mabaning Andamun Lucsadato.

Mabaning, known as either Benjie or Protector—the highest ranking commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who has so far defected to the government— is the commander of the 101st Brigade of the former Camp Bilal Base Command of the MILF Northern Mindanao Front. His group served as guards of the former the camp’s complex covering the towns of Munai and Poona Piagapo in Lanao del North and further south in Piagapo and Madalum in Lanao del Sur.

His forces, while not under the control of Abdullah Macapaar alias Bravo, have given support—security, manpower, and supplies—to the MILF activities in the area. Bravo’s group has been outlawed and is being sought after for attacking the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte in August 2008, killing 26 people and burning several houses.

See related articles at Philippine Army Website, Inquirer.Net, Journal Online, Business Mirror, ManilaTimes, PIA, and AFP Website (PDF).

Benjie came to me about a week ago saying he and his group wanted to lay down their firearms and return to our fold. He said he was tired of fighting and always on the run. He wanted to go back to his family whom he had neglected for being a leader of the MILF. I welcomed his intentions, telling him it was an honorable thing to do.






I told him that he and his men are better off joining the government to pursue more productive activities for their own families and their respective communities instead of wasting their time and energies in a shooting war with government forces—even as the lives of their families and the ordinary civilians have been caught in between. Their return will surely go a long way in reducing the threat posed by the outlaws in the area, hasten a climate of peace, and help build better communities in the province.

The decision of Benjie and his group to return is a victory on their part as well as of their families as they made a bold but beneficial move to help our society. We, in the military also share this achievement since this is in pursuit of the priorities set by the 1st Division Commander, Major General Romeo Lustestica, in upholding the peace process while taking punitive as well as restrictive measures against the lawless group of the MILF. Similarly, this is surely a welcome occasion by our local government executives with no less than the governor strongly promoting the establishment of a secure and peaceful condition so progress and development can take place in Lanao del Norte.




Perhaps, it is either by coincidence or by deliberate hostile action that the nearby Agus Bridge was blasted few hours before their formal welcome. Despite this, the ceremony—in the presence of their families whom we have invited—pushed through with their presentation to the public and the symbolic acceptance of the group by the Commander of the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army; subsequently, they were turned over to our political leader, the Governor of Lanao del Norte—Honorable Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo—who administered their oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines to indicate their return to our society.

On their own, the former rebels shed their MILF uniforms and burned them.

Welcome back to the fold.

“Tabak” handed over

The leadership of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army was passed from Major General Nehemias Pajarito to Major General Romeo Lustestica in a change of command ceremonies last 24 February 2009.

MGen Pajarito, the outgoing commander and who was also retiring from the service that day, thanked the troops for their support to his leadership. He, likewise, expressed confidence that under the new commander the 1st Division will continue to deliver its mission with excellence.

MGen Lustestica, the new division commander and the former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, outlined in his assumption speech the core priorities in running the 1st Infantry Division:

• To uphold the peace process with the MILF while taking punitive action against those who have abandoned it;
• To maintain the intensity of operation against the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist groups that are operating in the division’s area of responsibility;
• To push resources to the frontline units;
• To strengthen the chain of command by exacting the highest standard of discipline and for commanders to lead by example; NOT to tolerate military adventurism; and,
• To take extra efforts to bring the Army closer to the people.

As we bid goodbye to MGen Pajarito and wish him well in his retirement life, we welcome our new commander to lead the Tabak Division to further heights in the service of the country. See a related article at MindaNews.

New Year's Call & the Best Brigade

As it is the custom in the military, the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division held its New Year's Call for its subordinate units, but it was finally scheduled only last 20 January 2009 at its headquarters in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. Attributed to the delay were other priorities that have to be attended to. Even with the adjustments, MGen Nehemias Pajarito, the Division Commander was not around to receive his subordinates due to the passing of his mother. Instead, BGen Jovencio Magalso, the Assistant Division Commander, received the callers and delivered the Commander's Message.

(L-R): Col Emmanuel Bautista-9RCDG Cmdr; Col Santiago Baluyot-TF Zamboanga Cmdr; Col Rey Ardo-103rd Bde Cmdr; Col Rolando Tenefrancia-CofS,1st Div, BGen Jovencio Magalso-Assistant Div Cmdr, 1ID; Col Alexander Dicang-102nd Bde Cmdr; myself; Col Roland Amarille-101st Bde Cmdr; Col Nicanor Dolojan-403rd Bde Cmdr; and, Col Rizaldy Salimbangon-IG, 1st Div.

After exchanging pleasantries with the other attendees, we assessed the year that was and charted our future directions. At that time, it was revealed that 104th (my unit) topped the other brigades within the 1st Division for the 3rd Quarter of CY 2008 Best-Best Evaluation; 35IB, a unit under 104th, placed second of the 10 battalions in their category. This came as a pleasant surprise unaware of the competition and the parameters.

Even as we celebrate in having secured for 104th Infantry Brigade the throne as the Best Brigade of the 1st Division for the rated period, admittedly capturing the rogue elements of the MILF had been quite a challenge.

While the honor is shared by all the soldiers of 104th who contributed in a way to this achievement, I reflect "Can 104th maintain the bar we have already set?" Perhaps, that is secondary to what is expected of us to deliver--the mission.

To all Sultan Warriors, congratulations and carry on.

35IB passes the torch of command

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