ZAMBOANGA. Twenty-nine students of the Civil-Military Operations Competency and Enhancement Training (CMOCET) are undergoing a 45-day operational immersion starting May 25, 2026, in the area of operations of the 21st Infantry Battalion (21IB) in the second district of Sulu.
Official Statement
Brigadier General Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, commander of the 1102nd Infantry "Ganarul" Brigade, announced that the 21IB formally received the 29 CMOCET students on Monday, May 25, at the battalion headquarters in Seit Lake village, Panamao, Sulu. The reception marked the beginning of their immersion program.
The CMOCET students come from various subordinate units of the Sulu-based 11th Infantry "Alakdan" Division.
Preparation Activities
"Unit briefing and briefing on the concept of immersion were conducted in preparation for their actual exposure to CMO activities," Delos Santos said in a statement. These briefings aimed to equip the soldier-students with the necessary knowledge before their field deployment.
Objectives of the Immersion
The immersion is designed to provide the soldier-students with actual experience in community engagement, peace advocacy, stakeholder coordination, and other CMO activities. These efforts support the maintenance of peace and order in communities under the 21IB's area of operations.
Additionally, the program supports Team Ganarul's ongoing campaign to perpetuate peace and strengthen community-based peace initiatives in the second district of Sulu. Key initiatives include promoting Rido-Free, Gun-Free, and Peace-Centered Communities through intensified engagement with local governments, religious leaders, elders, youth, and various sectors of society.
Security Situation
Delos Santos noted that security in the second district of Sulu remains stable due to the joint efforts of citizens, local government, and the security sector.
"Through the operational immersion, it is expected that the relationship between the community and peace stakeholders will be further strengthened while increasing support for sustainment efforts to maintain Stable Internal Peace and Security in the area," Delos Santos added.
