After clash with rebels, soldiers serenade Cagayan folk

MANILA, Philippines - After engaging communist rebels in heavy fighting last month, Army soldiers picked up their guitars and played for local residents.

Members of the 17th Infantry Battalion were greeted with loud applause when they performed for thousands of students in Baggao, Cagayan on Friday.

"In winning the peace, there is no need for bloodshed. This innovative approach, where soldiers carry their guitars instead of their rifles, is very commendable. Indeed, music often has its way in healing a situation. It is something we are all touched by," said Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) commander, Lt. Gen. Jesse Dellosa.

The concert is part of the battalion's efforts "to heal the wounds" left by last month's brief but fierce fighting between Army troops and the New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay San Miguel. Four NPA rebels died in the encounter.  

Aside from the concert, Army soldiers also held a series of forums to explain their presence there.

"This engagement is better than just leaving the people to their individual thoughts and assumptions as to what happened in last month's encounter. Now they understood why it happened," said Lt. Col. Alvin Flores, who heads the battalion.

The audience was engaged in open dialogue, an interaction that Flores described as highly informative and productive.