Zambonga del Sur – A merry Christmas awaits six (6) Friends Rescued (FRs) of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) residing in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur as they received cash assistance, individual rice sacks (25kg), and food packs from the the Local Government of Bayog today, November 22, 2021.
The cash assistance amounted to a total of Php 120,000 for the 6 FRs and was handed by Bayog mayor and Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) Chair Hon. Celso Matias.
In his message, Hon. Matias said that the assistance was in line with the implementation of President Duterte’s Executive Order 70 which institutionalizes the Whole-of-Nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict in the coutry.
In a statement, 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera expressed his gratitude to Bayog MTF-ELCAC headed by Hon. Matias.
“We express our gratitude to Bayog MTF-ELCAC for their unwavering support to our Friends Rescued,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.
The activity was also attended by Bayog vice mayor Hon. Jocel Babasa, LGU Bayog Staff and Department Heads, and 53IB Civil-Military Operations Officer 2Lt. George Yu Jr.
Source: 53rd Infantry Battalion,P.A