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.

The ambassador: promoting goodwill

"Your Excellency, welcome to Lanao del Norte--the area of 104th Infantry Brigade," I greeted the US Ambassador Kristie Kenney in according her the military courtesy extended to visiting dignitaries.

Ambassador Kenney was the first and highest ranking foreign diplomat to have visited my brigade's area of responsibility since I assumed. While her plane landed at Iligan Airport in Baloi, she was heading for Marawi City in Lanao del Sur that day to visit the progress of USAID projects. The ambassador was very spirited even recalling our first meeting in 2007, when I represented the 10th Infantry Division in a social function she hosted, aboard USS Blue Ridge--the command ship of the US 7th Fleet--then anchored at General Santos City.




Our brief discussions with her along with Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Dimaporo and Robert Barnes of USAID (Office of Economic Development and Governance) were on projects to sustain peace and development in the area. She was glad to note that the US military have been supporting me very well in my civil-military activities. She clarified that requests for US military assistance by the communities will have to be channeled to the local military authorities.

As heavy rains in the afternoon stalled her trip back to Manila, she made use of the moments for light exchanges with the people around and cheerfully obliged to pose for picture taking. She even delighted them by distributing souvenir US-RP flags lapel pins.

Her enthusiasm and boldness to reach out to the depressed areas even those with negative travel advisories may have been dreadful to her security detail. Nonetheless, this effort indicates sincerity and resolve to pursue the direction set by US President Barack Obama as laid down in his inaugural speech: "America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity . . . that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace . . . To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect . . . To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds."

Ms. Kenney's serious commitment in best representing her country--to "breakdown the network of violence and hatred," and to promote the good will of the American people--may very well regard her as an ambassador in its truest sense.

May God Bless our ambassadors as they promote good will, harmony, and peace. God Bless the United States of America and God Bless the Philippines!

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.

A happy and peaceful Easter

After riding on our bikes and surveying the surroundings, I went to join my men on the beach. I have earlier approved the “beach party,” in observance of the customary affair of families to cool-off from the summer heat, timed with the celebration of Easter. While traveling, I saw traffic building up—all heading for the beach—a common scene throughout the country at the end of the Holy Week.







The beach was indeed full of people. I enjoyed seeing them especially the children playing either with the sand or on the waves. For my troops, it seemed that my presence alone already made them happy. So I joined them on their tables for banter with their families posing for photo shots with them. Noting a number of children, we paid on wholesale the contents of a passing local ice cream cart—to the delight of the vendor. However, the children were more thrilled as they ganged up for their free share. Later, we feasted on the potlucks prepared by the soldiers and their families.

I left them to enjoy a dip in the tempting sea and to give them more time with their families and friends. From there, I checked on the nearby resorts and found all these to be also packed with people. I was happy with the thought that the locals now find time to enjoy the peace and quiet of the day with their loved ones. I mused at how this peaceful condition came about: by those who courageously faced the perceived uncertain situation; by those who exerted all efforts to ensure the peace; and by the security forces, including the soldiers, who stood on guard and patrolled the countryside to protect the communities.

May the meaning of this day give us more vigor to renew our pursuit for peace in the land. Happy Easter Sunday to all.

Securing & touring on a bike

How do we continue performing our duties—in securing the communities—and make our tasks enjoyable especially this Lenten Season? There should be a way. As I thought of the available options on my porch, my attention strayed to the mountain bike parked beside me. Why not on a bike?

We have recently overcome the arduous and daunting route from Overton to the Brigade Headquarters in Maria Cristina, Iligan City: a 4-kilometer stretch taking an average biker, with an attitude, about 30 minutes to negotiate the steady climb to an altitude of 688 feet from sea level. The additional but longer distance to the city proper which is relatively flat should be more forgiving; more so with the rewarding sense of achievement. Of late, my staff took a keen interest in exploring the nearby communities as they mastered shifting gears of their newly acquired bikes. This is a widening fad in the Army not only to maintain physical fitness, but also help in cutting fuel costs when moving inside camps.





So this morning we rode towards the heart of Iligan City to survey the prevailing security condition. Major Efren Morados, the brigade executive officer who is an avid sportsman, took the lead. Weaving from one suburb to another, remaining inconspicuous in our biking attire and devoid of the usual military gear and firearms, we observed the building traffic and the locals emerged from their homes for their daily morning chores. Everything seemed peaceful so we checked on the sites and routes which we seldom see or pass. Friends, who learned we were around, invited us in their homes to partake a hearty breakfast and enjoy the company of their families.

Satisfied of the secure situation in the city, it was time to end our tour and head back to camp on our bikes—a challenge when hurdled is refreshing and self-assuring, as it is also fulfilling.

A fun-filled afternoon with the children

It is always refreshing and inspiring to spend time with the children, particularly when you see them happy. Their youthful innocence and zest at play has a way of reliving our younger days when we were unaffected by the larger concerns of the times.

A “Dula sa mga Bata Alang sa Kalinaw” (Games of the Children for Peace) was one activity planned to help communities, particularly the children, bring back happier days in places traumatized by the recent violence. The sponsors—Mr. Musa Sanguila, Executive Director of Pakigdait Incorporated, and Ms. Marit Stinus-Remonde, District Governor of Kiwanis International—chose Barangay Dilabayan of Kauswagan Town in Lanao del Norte as the site for this activity. Incidentally, the two sponsors took pride being among the Army awardees which came to help the brigade in its peace efforts in the area. In the recent celebration of the 112th Army Anniversary, Pakigdait, an interfaith organization, got the award, per our nomination—the second time around—as the Most Outstanding NGO; Ms. Remonde, also, received an award for helping the Army in its various civic programs.


















In the afternoon of 30 March, I addressed the children, skipping the usual lengthy amenities, saying simply that we came to have fun and play with them. The children’s response was quite ecstatic. Despite the drizzle, the event became livelier as Ms. Cristina Lomoljo sent her teams from Balay Integrated Rehabilitation for Total Human Development (BIRTHDEV) to assist in the games. Afterwards, they ate chicken “arrozcaldo.” To Musa, this was the first time the kids ate what was prepared for them; many even came back for second servings and more until nothing was left. In the previous activities, it was noted that the children did not touch the food that was brought for them due to cultural sensitivities. This time it was different, the local folks were given the raw food items and were asked to cook it themselves.

We left seeing the children happy…and we felt happier with a sense of fulfillment.