Residents of Brgy. Maligay were personally assisted by Governor Abdusakur M. Tan and MGen. William N. Gonzales in rebuilding their homes in a previously war-torned and abandoned land.
This year, the Office of the Governor and 11th Infantry Division have been relentlessly supporting the Balik Barangay Program of Patikul Municipal Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC). Today, after four (4) years, as the 209 Families of Brgy. Maligay officially went back to their barangay, four out of eight barangays that were displaced due to decades of war are now back to their land.
At around 10:00AM, November 5, 2020, the official program started with a prayer followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. As part of the program, Barangay Secretary Sherwina J. Juli gave a testimony of her experience with the Abu Sayyaf Group. “Bumungad po sa akin na nasusunog ang bahay ko, umaapoy pa po. Ano bang kasalanan namin? Sibilyan kami. Simula po noon hindi na ako bumalik sa Maligay kasi alam ko na papatayin nila kami.”
Governor Abdusakur M. Tan together with Mayor Kabir Hayudini took the lead in arranging the efforts of all line agencies. Construction materials for residents’ shelter, food packs and sacks of rice were given. In his speech, the governor personally thanked MGen. William N. Gonzales for bringing a whole engineer battalion to construct public toilet and water system. “Maganda na hindi lang nandito ang sundalo to destroy ang kalaban. Salamat kay MGen Gonzales na nagdala dito ng isang buong engineer battalion,” says Governor Tan.
The 545th Engineer Battalion were the main working force behind the construction of water system and public toilet which were inaugurated earlier today. Meanwhile, Ministry of Public Works is also utilizing all heavy equipment at their disposal for the road concreting of Tugas-Maligay Road.
For the security of the residents of Maligay, MGen. Gonzales have instructed the 1102nd Infantry Brigade under BGen. Ignatius N. Patrimonio to oversee the establishment of 21IB patrol base near the community. “Gagawin po namin ang lahat para sa seguridad ng buong Patikul. Gagawan din namin ng paraan na bumuhos ang suporta dito sa Maligay.
“Permanente po ang Alakdan Division dito sa Barangay Maligay. At para po sa kaalaman niyo may humigit 500 na Tausug ang naging sundalo na ng Division. May mga susunod pa. Hindi ho malayo na pagdating ng panahon may heneral na Tausug na magiging Division Commander dito sa Sulu.” says MGen Gonzales.
(Source: 11th Infantry Battalion ” Alakdan Troopers”)
