FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – The 69th Infantry (Cougar) Battalion participated in the National Commission on Indigenous People activity entitled “Healing Reconciliation and Operationalizing the 11 Building Blocks in the Ancestral Domain in Support to the Whole of Nation Approach by Empowering the FRs, IP Youth-EPs and IP leaders” held at Benitez Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City on August 29 to 30, 2022.
The two-day activity was participated by IP leaders, officials, and representatives of the different ancestral domains from the provinces of Benguet and Mountain Province and the City of Baguio, IP organizations, and local government units thru the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR), IP Youth and NCIP from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Also present were the Philippine National Police CAR, City Local Government Unit of Baguio City, and representatives from the 702nd Infantry Brigade and 503rd Infantry Brigade.
During the activity it was emphasized that the full implementation of IPRA Law or RA 8371 will address the following: (1) Communist armed conflict, and exploitation; (2) Healing and Reconciliation using Customary Laws; and (3) Development priorities under the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan.
“It is about time that we stand up and speak up against this professional swindler, the CPP-NPA-NDF, and help us to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict,” said Lieutenant Colonel Marcelo F Valdez Jr.
In his statement, the Commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division Major General Andrew D Costelo strongly supports the welfare and development of the IP communities and reiterates that the Kaugnay Division is always in partnership with different government agencies in maintaining peace and order of our IP brothers.
