The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, in a bid to ensure a harmonious relationship and cooperation between the Church and military in resolving conflicts, is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the four Dioceses in Negros island today for the formation of a Church-Military Advisory Group.

The MOU will be signed between Col. Honorato de los Reyes, Bishops Vicente Navarra, Patricio Buzon, Jose Advincula and John Du, of the Dioceses of Bacolod, Kabankalan, San Carlos and Dumaguete, respectively, at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod 9 a.m. today, Maj. Nathaniel Villasor said.

Villasor, who is the 303rd IB Civil Military Operations chief, said the signing of MOU, is expected to be witnessed by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines; Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, Military Vicar General; Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, commanding general of the AFP Central Command in Visayas; and Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, 3rd Infantry Division commander.

He added the MOU is a collective vision of the parties involved to promote and respect human dignity, and achieve sustained peace and development in Negros.

“There is a need to maintain an open line of communication and to serve as one body in resolving issues or conflicts, in achieving a harmonious and pro-active relationship and cooperation between the four Dioceses of Negros island, 303rd Infantry Brigade and its subordinate units,” Villasor said.

CMAG-Negros will be  composed of the four Dioceses to be represented by their respective Social Action Center directors, and the Civil Military Operations Task Unit of the 303rd IB.

The MOU also includes the creation of a fact-finding team that will jointly investigate and resolve issues and conflicts, arising from the conduct of the peace and development campaign in Negros and other related matters, Villasor said.*GPB

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