CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, (PIA) – As the whole nation marks September as peace month, army soldiers of the 8th Infantry Division and their civilian friends lighted candles for peace, dusk of Sept. 26.
Major General Jet Velarmino led the ceremony after his civilian friends took turns to commit their pledge of peace.
Calbayog City mayor Ronald Aquino, newly appointed Chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) pledged his whole heart support for the pursuit of what he termed “just and lasting peace.”
Pres. Aquino appointed mayor Aquino as the Chairman of RPOC, just this September. Aquino said he is ready to assume office and learn from his predecessors ways to sustain peace in the area-once known as haven of non-peaceful folks.
Joy Monsanto of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Sangguniang Panlungsod Max Pescos of Catbalogan City also offered their peace-support.
Emy Bonifacio of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) instructed everyone to light a candle as she led the Pledge for Peace which read in part “ I pledge to support peace in every way possible, for I am and will always be a Filipino, for a just and lasting Peace.” White doves were also released , after which the peace-advocates sang “If We Hold on Together” which provided the finishing touches of the ceremony. (jrc/nbq/PIA 8-Samar)