The 1604th Community Defense Center (CDC), under the 16th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) of BARMM RESCOM, Philippine Army, formally held the Closing and Graduation Ceremony of the Basic Citizen Military Training (BCMT) Class 05-2025 at the Palar Compound in Barangay Tabuk. The event marked the successful completion of rigorous military training for 176 graduates, including 120 regular and 56 supernumerary trainees.
The ceremony was led by top officials of the Philippine Army, including 1604th CDC Director MAJ James Audie Jaque; 16RCDG (BARMM) Group Commander COL Mohammad Yusop Hasan; and 1101st Infantry Brigade Commander BGEN Frederick Sales.
In his message, BGEN Sales congratulated the graduates for completing the demanding program with perseverance, discipline, and commitment. He reminded the new reservists that their role carries significant responsibility and emphasized their vital function in disaster response, maintaining peace and order in Basilan, and fostering unity and respect across the province’s culturally diverse communities. He expressed pride in their achievements and encouraged them to continue serving with humility, courage, and integrity, upholding the Army’s values in all their duties.
The event was also graced by Mayor and SGT Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, who personally congratulated the graduates and expressed her appreciation to the Philippine Army for instilling discipline and civic-mindedness among citizen-reservists. Drawing from her own experience as a BCMT graduate, Mayor Turabin-Hataman shared her understanding of the challenges and life lessons embedded in military training. She highlighted the critical role of reservists in community safety, disaster preparedness, and nation-building, particularly within Isabela City and the broader Basilan province. The mayor further encouraged the graduates to embody the values of leadership, discipline, and service in their daily lives and welcomed them as partners in promoting peace, security, and development in the city.
The program featured the presentation of graduating trainees, followed by the awarding of certificates and recognition to those who successfully completed the BCMT. The BCMT Class 05-2025 trainees demonstrated exceptional dedication, resilience, and teamwork throughout their training. They are now fully prepared to fulfill their responsibilities as disciplined reservists and active partners of the government in promoting peace, maintaining order, and supporting disaster response within their communities. (Words by SJ Asakil/Photos by M. Santos, CIO)
