The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) XIII – Caraga convenes for the Fourth Quarter of CY 2023 on December 1, 2023 at Grand Palace Hotel, Butuan City. It was presided by Hon. Alexander T. Pimentel, Governor of the Province of Surigao del Sur, RPOC Chairperson of Region XIII (Caraga).

The Report on the Special Action Committee on Anti-Criminality was presented by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office XIII while the Report on Insurgency and Violent Extremism was presented by the 4^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Regional Director Edsel T. Batalla of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) reported confidential matters pertaining to the recent attacks and incidents caused by the Communist Terrorist Groups’ (CTGs’) being the Chairperson of the Special Action Committee on Anti- Extortion to Address Communist Terrorist Groups’ (CTGs’) Resource Generation in Region XIII – Caraga.

Meanwhile, Asst. Regional Director Donald A. Seronay represented Regional Director: Maria Loisella E. Lucino, CESO V of DILG as RPOC Head Secretariat.

The DILG, as RPOC XIII Secretariat presented the accomplishments and updates of the Council, including the result and the LGU Awardees of the 2022 Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Audit, and also the result of the 2022 Peace and Order Council (POC) Performance Audit, both of which was utilized in the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in measuring LGU Performance under Safety, Peace and Order (SPO) Governance Area.

Two (2) agencies in the region, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – District of Northeastern Mindanao and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) of Caraga became members of the Council during the meeting upon the concurrence of all the Council members present after expressing their intent to join the Council in the pursuit of a lasting peace in the region.

With high hopes of gaining support from RPOC Caraga, the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Agusan del Sur endorsed five (5) PPOC Resolutions for further endorsement and appropriate action of concerned agencies.

The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Caraga sustains its commitment in ensuring the safety and security of the people in Caraga through the promotion and implementation peace-building initiatives in the region. ## (LGOO VI Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa)