Soldiers in Sarangani trained to fight and to care

MAASIM, Sarangani (July 17, 2010) – At the 22nd Founding Anniversary celebration of Philippine Army’s 73rd “Neutralizer” Infantry Battalion Friday (July 16), peace partners and local officials disclosed deep appreciation of the soldiers’ effort to relive peace in thecommunities.

“This is the first time I attended a celebration where there’s so muchpride,” Governor Migs Dominguez said.

“You have successfully embodied what we want in each and everysoldier, by coming with solutions to conflicts in our communitieswhich clearly shows that we care. This is the kind of patriotism thatwill carry our country to excellence,” the governor added.

The battalion under commanding officer Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon openedthe celebration with a pass-in-review in the morning to honor guests.“I am always proud of this unit being exemplars of discipline andpatriotism,” guest of honor and speaker Major General Carlos Holganza said.

According to Holganza, the 73rd IB is the only battalion facing two fronts - the New Peoples’ Army and the secessionists fronts - under their area of operational responsibility “but were able to maintaintheir position with flexibility and balance”.

“We are changing the image of the soldier. We are having a paradigmshift and expanding our role as soldiers. In our context, soldiers areto be respected and not to be feared,” Holganza said.“We are trained to fight and trained to care. It is always importantto think about other people.”

According to Holganza, the way to peace is to work together, to workhard, the need to educate the youth, and to believe in God.Maitum town passed a municipal resolution in January “in gratefulappreciation to the peace building effort” given by the battalion to their community especially when Moro rebel atrocities broke out intown and its neighboring Kiamba and Maasim municipalities in 2008.

Thousands of families began to return to their homes after the 73rd IB arrived who immediately conducted clearing operations in the mountainswhere the suspects fled.“We started our partnership in 2008,” Dr. Roel Cagape of the Hearts and Brains Foundation said.“They are good models to the children. These uniformed men enjoy dancing with them in our medical missions. I actually heard one of the children in one of our medical missions that he wanted to be a soldier.”

Members of the battalion received the Bronze Cross medal. Troops from the Neutralizer were assigned to Maguindanao who went after the criminals responsible for the Maguindanao massacre killing 57 civilians and media men in November last year.

Other awards were also given to peace partners such as KalinawSarangani Unit, Kapayapaan Kapatid Council, Hearts and Brains Foundation, ABS-CBN SOCSKSARGEN, and Conal Holdings Corporation.(Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)