A MILITARY officer urged local government units to support the civil-military activities in their communities as a venue for public service.
Colonel Leopoldo Galon, group commander of the 5th Community Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippine, said that while many soldiers pursue the rebels through combat operations, some of them are also reaching out to communities by providing free medical and dental services, coastal clean up, tree planting, construction of farm to market roads, provision of livelihood programs and free education under the military literacy program and livehood training for rebel returnees.
Galon issued the statement following the Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s withdrawal of support to 1003rd Infantry Brigade.
Galon said he understands the order of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to stop the logistical support to the counter-insurgency operations and to realign her efforts towards peaceful solutions to the conflict by investing in comprehensive rebel returnee program and literacy empowerment for the indigenous peoples and other projects that impact on communities.

He said that indeed whenever the military runs after the rebels, it is combat heavy.
However,  he said that even the mayor stops the  support to combat operations, she  must maintain support to the CMO which can be effective only with the support of the local government unit.
“Many residents in the countryside including supporters of the rebels  benefited from the civil-military operations,” Galon said.”He stressed that the mayor can harness all agencies and even create a team that will formulate alternatives  to solve the  insurgency problem in the region.
“It is a challenge not only to Mayor Sara, but also to all mayors, governors and local officials to see peace in their locality.    And in their endeavors, the military assures to provide  any assistance at all times,” Galon said.