Tuguegarao—Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba led the formal launching of the first Victims, Orphans, and Widows of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) Atrocities or VOWCA in the province on Monday during the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Capitol grounds here.
Mamba emphasized that the populace should be unified in its objective to fight insurgency. He also stressed the importance of democracy and in choosing the right leaders.
“That is why I kept telling people that we should empower people so that they know how to choose. I will not allow that everything will end here, that is why we keep fighting against insurgency not only for ourselves but for the next generation in order that they won’t suffer the same experience we did throughout these years,” Mamba stressed.
Meanwhile, Lt. Cl. Camilo Sadam, Batallion Commander of the 5th Infantry Division Philippine Army based in Gamu, Isabela, said the program seeks to end Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the province and in the countryside.
“The victims of insurgency are all victims of senseless killings, of violence, and are victims of deceptive recruitments. We did this activity with the Governor so that we will have a rallying point,” Sadam said.
“This is not only our fight for our soldiers who were killed, the civilian victims but also their family their wife and children.
“We will have a rallying point in the sense to safeguard these victims. They are all victims of the killings of this Communist Terrorist Group,” Lt. Cl. Sadam added.
Rogelio Sending, Jr., OIC Provincial Information Office reiterated that Cagayanos are fortunate the provincial government perceived the necessity in launching the program.
Sending expressed gratitude to the Philippine Army and Mamba for the launching of VOWCA that he said paved the way to better understand the situation of all the victims.
VOWCA is an inclusion of the Peace and Order program of the governor based on his Cagayan Development Agenda (CAGANDA) 2025 and his bid to fight insurgency.
The program is realized along with the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police Region 2, the victims, family members of the victims, soldiers and the civilians killed.
On the same occasion, Helen Donato, OIC of the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office was given recognition for her Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan: Best Convergence Category in the 2019 Panagyaman Awards in the Implementation of DSWD Programs and Services.
