Army sees need for 210 new CAFGUs in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, January 6 (PIA)—Internal security (IS) keepers in Bohol eye an additional 210 new Civilian Armed Forces for Geographical Units (CAFGU) Active Auxiliaries or CAA recruits in 2017. 

The development surfaced even as military and police authorities have successfully maintained Bohol as insurgency free, since its declaration in 2010.

They however push for the need for CAAs, as legal fronts of the insurgents have reportedly been relentless in their efforts to regain their grasp and influence in Bohol grassroots. 

At the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Meeting, Army commanding officer of the 417th Infantry Brigade assigned here, Colonel Dodjie Belloga said the recruitment is to make sure that Bohol still maintains the number of civilian auxiliaries who can multiply the presence of the military in Bohol. 

After its declaration as insurgency-free, Bohol has slowly released its army internal security operators, especially when the country sees the need to respond to threats of insurrection in the south. 

To make sure that the insurgents do not take over the vacuum left by the military, Bohol officials and internal security operators set up a Bohol Localized Internal Security System (BLISS). 

This uses an intricate network of civilians and tapping the community as intelligence sources and the CAA play a key role as active security operatives with suppression power. 

While there is a little over 600 CAAs in Bohol assigned in 30 detachments all over the province’s three districts, there have been reports of depleted ranks among CAA volunteers.

Sources said a call for better job offers and opportunities have been tagged as the reasons of the majority who ceased to work as CAFGUs. 

Army 302nd Infantry Division commander Col Arnulfo Matanguihan in his acceptance after taking over the flag of command for the Division, vowed to secure the investments in Central Visayas.

He also promised to prevent the resurgence of insurgency that once hampered the growth and development of the region. 

Stressing the pivotal role of the CAA in sustaining the bond that binds communities standing up against the reentry of insurgents, both key officials underline the need for community cooperation in the struggle to keep Bohol free from the influence of fear brought by insurgents. 

Over this, the few who are left of the army and its CAA have intensified stakeholder engagements to gain deeper trust and confidence in communities, according to Col Belloga. 

The Bohol IS operators have lent its visible presence to communities in HEAT IT Caravans, environment care and protection projects, support socio-civic events, rendered medical dental activities as well as helped schools set up and train ready reserve forces. 

The entry of the 210 CAA would be a great help in assuring sustained growth in Bohol as well as keeping the threat of the return of insurgents at bay. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)