Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City – The Philippine Army will activate on Oct. 31, a Task Force “Pagmamahal” in connection with the observance of All Saints/Souls’ Day to ensure the safety and security of the visitors who will visit their departed loved ones at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) here, on Nov. 1 and 2.

Highlights of the activities at LNMB are the following; flag setting on Oct. 31 at 8 am, synchronized lightning of candles, 6 pm on Nov. 1, and a holy mass, 8 am on Nov. 2.

The Army’s TF “Pagmamahal” is composed of four different task group which will take effect on Friday.

First is the Service Support Task Group, who will oversee the overall physical preparation of the LNMB, and provide public assistance and/or assist families in locating the grave of their departed loved ones. They are also tasked to provide transportation, maintenance and medical services.

Second is the Vigil Task Group who will perform vigil service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers (TUKS) at LNMB.

Other task groups are the Security Task Group who is in-charge of the overall security and the Law Enforcement and Traffic Control Task Group who will ensure orderliness and smooth flow of traffic. Parking areas will be designated and roving patrols and traffic marshals will be deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow and direct visitors to authorized parking areas.

The Grave Services Unit of the Army Support Command, which supervises the activities inside the LNMB, ensures that the 142-hectare facility is well-maintained, while personnel from the Philippine National Police and the Metro Manila Development Authority will also extend their assistance in ensuring the peaceful observance of UNDAS.

The LNMB serves as a resting place for Filipino soldiers, presidents, dignitaries, national artists/scientists/boy scouts, and thousands of soldiers who perished in the Second World War and Korean War.

Currently, 46,120 are interred at the LNMB.

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – Members of the Philippine Army reaffirm their commitment to adhere to the highest standard of public service during the celebration of the 25th AFP Code of Ethics Day and the 24th Founding Anniversary of the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) on Monday, October 12, here.

Army personnel recited the Oath of Adherence to the AFP Code of Ethics during the celebration.

In his speech, Lt Gen Eduardo M Año, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, congratulated the staff of OESPA, headed by Army Vice Commander MGen R. Demosthenes C Santillan, for their remarkable accomplishments in promoting accountability among Army personnel. He further urged everyone to always observe and practice the sense of public accountability.

“I challenge everyone to cultivate an unyielding desire to practice the tenets and follow the ethical, legal and moral service embodied in the AFP Code of Ethics. Strive to develop a character where integrity and accountability are inherent,” said Lt Gen Año.

Plaques of Recognition were awarded to the Civil Military Operations Group (CMOG), 5th Infantry Division, 8th Infantry Division, and Army Reserve Command who have complied with the conduct of intensive and sweeping division-wide information and education drive on the AFP Code of Ethics, Graft and Corruption Prevention, Spiritual Enlightenment, and other OESPA related activities.

The drafter of this year’s anniversary theme, “Disiplinado at Matapat na Kawal Kaakibat ng Hukbong Katihan Tungo sa Matuwid na Daan,” Sgt Hilda Abaya of the 4th Infantry Division, also received a Plaque of Recognition.

“As we renew our pledge, let us bear in mind that this gesture is beyond promise. We must go beyond the propensity to take this lightly and forget all about it after a few days. It must, instead be our conviction not only because the Filipino expect much from us, but also because we want to be part of the transformation that the Army is pursuing,” added Lt Gen Año.

Meanwhile, in its 24 years, OESPA continues to pursue and promote accountability and nurture moral consciousness within the Army organization. #

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – At four years old, Roy has done wonders not everybody of his kind can do.

Grief loomed in a village in Mankayan, Benguet when landslides brought by relentless rains claimed the lives of people, displaced families, and damaged houses and infrastructure.

Search and rescue teams from different government agencies were deployed to locate the missing persons, believed to have been buried in mud and debris. Amid the painful reality of loss is the families’ hope of finding their loved ones.

Roy helped rescue teams locate the missing persons. Only months after graduating from his combat tracking training, Roy led the team in the vicinities where some of the victims might have been buried. The retrieval operations that followed was in connection with the positive indication showed by Roy. Hours and days later, the team retrieved four cadavers.

This has been Roy’s first operation. Despite being new in the job, he displayed extraordinary potential, giving the grief-stricken families a chance to properly say goodbye and provide a decent burial to their relatives who died in the landslides.

Roy is a member of the Philippine Army’s 5th K9 Company. He is a Military Working Dog. Recently, he was recognized for his extraordinary feat in the search and retrieval operations in Mankayan, Benguet.

Roy: The Military Working Dog

Roy is a Labrador and Aspin (Asong Pinoy/Askal) cross breed. His potential to become a military working dog was discovered while he was at the K9 headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. At his tender age, he showed a drive, characterized by his love for balls (toys), running around, and chasing and playing with the handlers. Exhibiting these traits, he went through the Basic Obedience Training. After which, he specialized in combat tracking and finished the 6 months training just last February at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. He was then deployed at the 5th Infantry Division in Upi, Gamu, Isabela.

“Roy is a special military working dog (MWD). Despite being a mixed breed, he is intelligent and capable. He can keep pace with the pure breeds,” said Sergeant Wilfredo Fiesta, the team leader of the 5th K9 Company involved in the search and retrieval operations in Benguet.

Fiesta has been an MWD handler for almost 10 years already.

Roy’s handler, PFC Crisanto de Gracia, has been continuously training Roy. “Part of our daily routine is the continuous training exercise. As a handler, it is important to develop a bond with the dog. We do this with daily activities so that we can both be familiar with each other,” said De Gracia.

For his involvement in the search and retrieval operations in Benguet, Roy and the Army K9 Battalion received a Certificate of Recognition from the Bureau of Animal Industry. Roy was also given a star by the Intelligence Service Group (ISG), during their anniversary, for being a search and rescue dog.

Hero Dogs

At present, there are 149 MWDs at the Army K9 Battalion deployed in the different units of the Philippine Army nationwide. They are combat tracking dogs, explosive detection dogs, and scout/attack dogs.

These hero dogs are deployed during search, rescue and retrieval operations; and in military operations against lawless elements. #