TUMULAK TO PPOC: Spread gospel of peace

BISHOP Leopoldo Tumulak the other day urged the top-performing Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to spread the gospel peace even more. The military vicar officiated a mass at the 302nd Infantry Brigade headquarters at Camp Rajah Sikatuna in Katipunan, Carmen town that formed part of the PPOC's Christmas party. Chaired by Gov. Erico Aumentado, the PPOC decided to hold the get-together in Carmen although BGen. Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general, could not make it. He had to join other commanders in Manila for the traditional New Year's Call at the headquarters of the Philippine Army.

In his homily, Tumulak said the PPOC's performance has earned it accolades – an indication that it had already been spreading peace that is a very Christian act. He stressed however that the PPOC should not stop there; it should spread more peace. He urged the council to continue its collaboration – to complete one another – because peace and order cannot be attained just by one, but by the collaboration of all, even by “our brothers in the mountains.” Peace is not just the absence of war, but progress and development without fear – wherein everyone and not just the governor should actively participate in – in the aspiration to attain it, he said. He also encouraged the members to support – and learn to trust.

“Think Bohol ” first – of its development, peace and order and interest, he added.

“Above all, let me congratulate you. In my conversations with Generals [Hermogenes] Esperon, Tolentino, even [Jovito] Palparan and [Juanito] Gomez, they always talk of Bohol , what's happening here. We have multiplied ourselves! We should be thankful to the Lord; this is God's gift for us. Let us bring this gift outside of Bohol ,” he urged. During the program after the PPOC meeting, Aumentado thanked the members for their support in all the undertakings for poverty reduction and peace and development of Team Bohol. His latest awards – the Konrad Adenauer special recognition for Bohol's being the highly performing province and his medal of excellence for steering the province as such, and the Local Governance Leadership Award as outstanding governor for plucking Bohol out of Club 20 – the country's 20 poorest provinces in a relatively short time are not by his efforts alone but that of Team Bohol of which the PPOC are also members, he said. “Together, Team Bohol and the PPOC can sustain the momentum of our efforts to move Bohol forward and bring forth the blessings of peace and order,” he stressed.

l