Governors pledge support to peace efforts of 602nd Brigade

NORTH COTABATO --- Two governors on Sunday assured of support to the peace-building programs of the Army’s 602ndBrigade complementing Malacañang’s Mindanao peace process.Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and his counterpart in North Cotabato, Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, also both promised to help in the brigade’s confidence-building overture with Muslim, Christian and lumad sectors in conflict-flashpoint areas.The two provincial governors were among the dignitaries present in Sunday’s thanksgiving banquet tendered by the brigade’s commanding officer, now Brig. Gen. Manolo Samarita.Samarita was promoted to a star rank only last month. He has been the commander of the 602ndBrigade based in Carmen town in North Cotabato for more than a year now.Sunday’s event at Camp Lucero in the municipality of Carmen in North Cotabato, the command center of the brigade, was capped off with the launching of the brigade’s new officers’ lounge.The newly-built facility was constructed with the help of Mangudadatu, who is a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte’s diplomatic dealings with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.Samarita said he is thankful to Mangudadatu for providing funds for the construction of their officer’s lounge.He said they can hold in the building small group peace dialogues with local officials and leaders of various sectors helping push President Duterte’s Mindanao peace process forward.Mendoza, now in her third and last term as governor, had announced during the modest celebration of Samarita’s promotion that their provincial board approved recently a proposed P3.5 million allocation for the construction of a multi-purpose gymnasium inside Camp Lucero.Mendoza said the brigade deserves the gymnasium owing to its very important role in maintaining law and order in some of North Cotabato’s 17 towns.North Cotabato also covers Kidapawan City, the provincial capital, which has 40 barangays.Samarita said they will utilize the gymnasium as venue for larger public affairs activities meant to foster cordiality and camaraderie among the military and North Cotabato’s Muslim, Christian and Lumad residents.