Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – 333 new Privates of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division faced the people from all walks of life who witnessed their graduation rites in the hollow ground of the Division Headquarters, yesterday morning, November 16.
Parents, relatives, friends and people from different sector, young and old assembled around the ground not wasting their opportunity to witness such a historic event where their love one is involved.
Everyone fulfilled their expectation as they saw the graduating class march, execute rifles and performs traditional Filipino martial arts and self-defense pose almost perfectly. The heavy downpour of rains in the midst of the program did not stop the parade even when the 8ID marching band demonstrated their exhibition that fully added colors to the activity. Spectators bid satisfaction to their faces as the band completed their show with a pass-in-review.
Significant to the activity is the ceremonial entrustment of firearms to the newly enlisted privates done by the representatives from the people of all walks of life. It was spearheaded by Vice Governor Ma. Mimeatta Bagulayan of Leyte representing Governor Jericho Petilla, as the ceremony’s guest of honor and speaker.
Farmers, vendors, fisher folk, nurse, doctor, student, parents, lawyer, NGO, GO and media were some of the few who made themselves available to entrust fire arms to the soldiers. This symbolizes that these people entrust their protection of rights, security and safety to the soldiers whom their primary duties and responsibility is to defend the constitution.
In a statement made by Major General Mario Chan, chief of the Army in Eastern Visayas, he said that the new breed of soldiers will be an additional force to secure the people of Region 8 against the people who vehemently destroy and violate our people’s rights.
“With the additional forces, the 8ID will surely perform its tasks of protecting our people’s right against the rebels who violently destroy its sanctity. With these reasonable forces that adds to the 8ID troopers, rest assure that our people can expect more than what we are doing for the sake of peace and development in this part of the country,” General Chan says.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Bangulayan said in her message that the men and women of the 8th Infantry Division have continuously contributed devotion to duty according to constitution.
"With these additional forces to the 8ID, I am optimistic that our problems against insurgency will surely come into end. That’s why all members of the society, government and non-government agencies should give their share for the ultimate attainment of peace not only in Samar but also in Leyte provinces,” says Vice Governor Bangulayan.In the end, the ceremonial entrustment to the newly enlisted privates gave more hope for the people of Region 8 to once again re-experience the peaceful environment that they long experienced before the advent of the terrorist communist in their provinces.###
