Bacolod forum brings together church, military, police
Published Aug 27, 2019 03:40 pm
By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – A forum was launched at the Bishop’s House here last Monday to harmonize the relationship and cooperation between the four Catholic dioceses in Negros, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The signing of the memorandum of understanding among the Church, military, and police, led by Bishop Patricio Buzon (3rd from right) of Bacolod, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza (3rd from left) of San Carlos City, Bishop Louie Galbines (2nd from right) of Kabankalan City, and Bishop Jaime Florencio (2nd from left) of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, in the presence of Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (left) and Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas regional director (right) during the launching of CMP forum - Negros held at the Bishop’s house in Bacolod City Monday. (Contributed Photo)
The Church-Military-Police (CMP) forum, formerly known as CMP Advisory Group - Negros (CMPAG-N), ensures that the lines of communication between the said the three entities are always open, given the long-standing insurgency problem in Negros.
Rev. Fr. Chris Gonzales, head of Social Action Center, said the AFP and PNP welcomed the forum as an effective venue to discuss issues which affect peace and order.
The Church earlier renewed its call for an end to killings, following a series of deadly shooting incidents in Negros Oriental which claimed 17 lives.
The shootings came a week after the killing of four policemen by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Bindoy town, last month.
Three incidents have been confirmed by the police as insurgency-related.
The Church said genuine peace cannot be achieved through military adventurism and tit-for-tat conflict.
“We believe that for as long as we are talking, we will not resort to violence,” Gonzales said.
“We know that militarization is not a solution to the insurgency problem, poverty, and hunger in our society. We also need the cooperation of all sectors,” he said.
Rizalito Gapas, Negros Oriental acting police chief, said the situation in the province was stable, with no violent incidents occurring this month so far.
Gapas had taken over a few weeks ago from Col. Raul Tacaca, who was relieved during the height of killings.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the church, military and police to set up the CMP forum as an “institutional platform for dialogue.”
The agreement’s signing was led by Bishops Patricio Buzon of Bacolod, Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos City, Julito Cortes of Dumaguete City, and Louie Galbines of Kabankalan City, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), Brigadier General Ignacio Madriaga, commander of 302nd IBde, Police Colonel Rizalito Gapas, Negros Oriental police provincial director, Negros Occidental police provincial director, Colonel Romeo Baleros, and Colonel Henry Biñas, Bacolod City police director, in the presence of Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of 3rd Infantry Division, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas regional director, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, Central Visayas regional director, and Bishop Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding among the Church, military, and police, led by Bishop Patricio Buzon (3rd from right) of Bacolod, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza (3rd from left) of San Carlos City, Bishop Louie Galbines (2nd from right) of Kabankalan City, and Bishop Jaime Florencio (2nd from left) of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, in the presence of Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (left) and Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas regional director (right) during the launching of CMP forum - Negros held at the Bishop’s house in Bacolod City Monday. (Contributed Photo)
The Church-Military-Police (CMP) forum, formerly known as CMP Advisory Group - Negros (CMPAG-N), ensures that the lines of communication between the said the three entities are always open, given the long-standing insurgency problem in Negros.
Rev. Fr. Chris Gonzales, head of Social Action Center, said the AFP and PNP welcomed the forum as an effective venue to discuss issues which affect peace and order.
The Church earlier renewed its call for an end to killings, following a series of deadly shooting incidents in Negros Oriental which claimed 17 lives.
The shootings came a week after the killing of four policemen by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Bindoy town, last month.
Three incidents have been confirmed by the police as insurgency-related.
The Church said genuine peace cannot be achieved through military adventurism and tit-for-tat conflict.
“We believe that for as long as we are talking, we will not resort to violence,” Gonzales said.
“We know that militarization is not a solution to the insurgency problem, poverty, and hunger in our society. We also need the cooperation of all sectors,” he said.
Rizalito Gapas, Negros Oriental acting police chief, said the situation in the province was stable, with no violent incidents occurring this month so far.
Gapas had taken over a few weeks ago from Col. Raul Tacaca, who was relieved during the height of killings.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the church, military and police to set up the CMP forum as an “institutional platform for dialogue.”
The agreement’s signing was led by Bishops Patricio Buzon of Bacolod, Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos City, Julito Cortes of Dumaguete City, and Louie Galbines of Kabankalan City, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), Brigadier General Ignacio Madriaga, commander of 302nd IBde, Police Colonel Rizalito Gapas, Negros Oriental police provincial director, Negros Occidental police provincial director, Colonel Romeo Baleros, and Colonel Henry Biñas, Bacolod City police director, in the presence of Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of 3rd Infantry Division, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas regional director, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, Central Visayas regional director, and Bishop Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.