CAVITE — Some 2,165 residents in five Cavite localities heard Philippine Army briefings on the West Philippine Sea and on recruitment schemes the military blames on communist armed groups, during simultaneous barangay assemblies on Sunday, October 18.
The one-day Community Information Awareness and Approach Program (CIAAP) covered Noveleta, Rosario, Magallanes, Tanza, and Dasmariñas City. It was run by the 202nd Infantry (Unifier) Brigade through Joint Task Unit Ugnay and the 2nd Civil-Military Operations Company, according to a 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division press release dated October 26.
The talks focused on recruitment tactics that the military says target young people, and on developments in the West Philippine Sea.
"We cannot expect people to recognize a threat if they do not know what to look for. Parents and young people should be able to distinguish legitimate opportunities and peaceful civic participation from attempts to draw them into violence," 2nd Infantry Division Commander Major General Arsenio Sadural said.
"The West Philippine Sea concerns every Filipino, whether they live along the coast or farther inland. People deserve to understand what is happening there and why it matters to our country," Sadural added.
Brigadier General Ernest John Jadloc, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, said holding the discussions at barangay assemblies brings security information closer to ordinary families. "Some parents may not recognize when their children are being approached for recruitment, while others may only hear about the West Philippine Sea through the news. We want our communities to understand these issues, recognize the risks, and know how to protect themselves," he said.
Local government units, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine Coast Guard joined the activities. The division said community information activities will continue across its area of responsibility.
Source: 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division Public Affairs Office, Philippine Army (press release, October 26, 2026). Photos: 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army.