TACLOBAN CITY — Government troops in Leyte learned how to dance as a strategy to win the hearts of villagers in communities highly vulnerable to insurgency.
The dancing soldiers of the 78th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Burauen, Leyte, have been performing in medical missions, school-based events, and other gatherings where soldiers are invited.
“By nature, Filipinos love to sing and dance. Dancing binds you with the community. It allows you to do what they want do and if you do it with them, they would relate to you,” said Col. Danilo Dupiag, 78th Infantry Battalion commanding officer.
Dupiag believes that they have earned the trust of people in far-flung communities through entertainment. In return, villagers have been providing intelligence information to the military.
Insurgency problem in Leyte is not as worse in Samar Island, but there is still a challenge for them to keep the insurgency situation from manageable to completely eradicated, he said.
The military official noted that convincing the people not to join the New People’s Army (NPA) is easier now because most of the NPA members are individuals who have criminal records and without ideology.
Dupiag added that even if the national government cancelled peace talks last year local peace initiative in the province has continued.
“I am very supportive to the peace talks that is why even the national government cancelled it last year, we continue doing that in the local level to show our sincerity. Through this, we are able to convince three rebels to surrender,” he said. (PNA)
