Decades of auxiliary frontline service in Mindanao received formal financial recognition on Monday, October 12, 2026, when the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division of the Philippine Army conducted what it described as its first-ever separation gratuity pay awarding ceremony for outgoing Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) personnel at Agila Hall, Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr., Barangay Tuboran, Mawab, Davao de Oro.
Seventy-eight CAA personnel took part in the milestone event, which the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) characterized as a formal institutional acknowledgment of the auxiliaries' longstanding contributions to counter-insurgency and territorial defense operations throughout Mindanao.
Longest-Serving Honorees Recognized
Five of the 78 honorees stood out for completing 38 years of continuous active auxiliary service — the longest tenures celebrated at the ceremony, according to the 10ID. Major General Alvin Luzon, commanding general of the 10th Infantry Division, presided over the rites and directly addressed the retiring auxiliaries.
In his remarks, Major General Luzon expressed gratitude on behalf of the Division: "Bilang inyong Commander, ako ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa maraming taon ninyong serbisyo bilang mga CAA ng 10th Infantry Division. Sa pagtatapos ng inyong aktibong paglilingkod, ang separation gratuity pay na inyong natanggap ay sumasalamin sa pasasalamat at pagkilala ng Agila Division sa inyong dedikasyon at kontribusyon sa ating misyon. Ito ay nagsisilbing pagpupugay sa serbisyong inilaan ninyo sa ating Hukbong Sandatahan at sa bayan."
CAA Personnel as Force Multipliers Under the ITDS
The 10ID explained that CAA personnel function as force multipliers within the Integrated Territorial Defense System (ITDS), conducting operations against insurgency and maintaining insurgency-free conditions as Left Behind Forces in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).
Beyond internal security roles, the 10ID noted that CAA members have supported external security functions by promoting community awareness and vigilance in coastal areas — contributions directly linked to the defense of Philippine territory, sovereignty, and sovereign rights, including those pertaining to the West Philippine Sea.
Simultaneous Enrollment into the Reserve Force
Recipients of the separation gratuity pay were not simply separated from service, the 10ID said. All 78 personnel were simultaneously integrated into the Philippine Army Reserve Force, keeping them available for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) missions, peacebuilding activities, and support to the Division's External Security and Territorial Defense Operations as circumstances may require.
The 10ID described the dual nature of the proceedings — pairing financial separation benefits with formal Reserve Force enrollment — as the Division's way of retaining experienced community-level auxiliaries as a strategic asset beyond their years of active duty.
A Precedent-Setting Event for the Agila Division
According to the 10ID, no similar ceremony combining gratuity pay and Reserve Force integration had previously been held within the Division. The event represents a shift toward institutionalizing formal recognition for CAA auxiliaries, who have historically served in support capacities with less visibility than regular Army units.
Major General Luzon reiterated in his address that the gratuity pay carries significance beyond its monetary value — referring to it as a "pagpupugay," or tribute, to service rendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Filipino nation.
By the Numbers
- 78 — CAA personnel who attended and were honored at the ceremony
- 5 — Honorees who each completed 38 years of active auxiliary service
- 38 years — Longest tenure recognized at the event
- October 12, 2026 — Date of the ceremony, held at Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr., Mawab, Davao de Oro
Why This Matters
The 10ID stated that this ceremony is the first within the Division to formally combine financial separation benefits with Reserve Force integration for CAA personnel, establishing a precedent for how the Philippine Army recognizes auxiliary service. With all 78 recipients transitioning into the Reserve Force, the Division retains a pool of experienced community-level defenders available for both security operations and disaster response. The 10ID also noted the sustained role of CAA auxiliaries in securing GIDAs and coastal communities connected to broader national defense priorities, including the West Philippine Sea.
Source: 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, as reported by breakingnewsnegor.com wire reports