MOA signing for Peace highlights PPOC meeting
By PHIL PA-ALAN
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (Feb.
11, 2015) – Signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Peace was the major highlight of the
Provincial Peace and Order Council of
Lanao del Norte convened Wednesday (Feb. 11), to promote peace and security in
the province. The PPOC meeting, the
first to be held for the year 2015, was chaired by Provincial Governor Mohammad Khalid
Q. Dimaporo , and attended by other
provincial officials, municipal officials, the military, the police, government
agency officials, and non-government and civil society organization. The PPOC meeting tackled the
reading/consideration and approval of the previous minutes of the PPOC meeting
held on September 2, last year, updates on peace and order from the military
and police perspective, and PAMANA projects from the DILG, and important other matters.
Dispensing with the reading of
the minutes, the PPOC approved the minutes of the prior PPOC meeting.
Col. Gilbert I. Gapay,
commanding officer of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade based at
Maria Cristina, Iligan City made a power point presentation of the current
peace and order situation in the province.
He said the situation in the province is generally peaceful but the
situation is highly volatile due to issues on Mamasapano incident and the
delayed passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Col Gapay said that the 2nd
Mechanized Infantry Brigade has four (4) battalions covering its area of
operation which includes Iligan City and the entire province of Lanao del Norte. He said the ceasefire agreement is still in
effect and the military conducts support operations to address internal
security.
Col. Gapay said that two (2)
MILF commanders from Lanao del Norte are allegedly involved in the Mamasapano
bloody incident but this has yet to be verified, validated and
investigated. He said the MILF is on the
watch and see posture on the offshoot of the bloody clash in Mamasapano. He said the peace process is holding but the
situation remains volatile. He said the
BIFF continues to oppose the passage of the BBL which is now pending in
Congress for further deliberation.
Col Gapay said the response of
the military in the face of these situation include the following: maintain deterrent posture; maintain open
lines of communication between the military and the MILF, the CCCH and the Ad
Hoc Joint Action Group; continue public information and awareness through the
media to correct misinformation; intensified monitoring of MILF actions; and put
the contingency plan in place.
Col Gapay also said that the
military is supporting the development of a culture of peace by supporting the program
“From Arms to Farms” project, Lakbay-aral for farmers, continued support
to confidence building measures,
cultural sensitivity lectures for the troops, humanitarian assistance and
disaster preparedness in communities and youth anti-drugs symposium.
Col. Gapay said that the
military adopts a more comprehensive approach to peace and security
concerns. He said the military helps in
enhancing the community Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)
capability, strengthen Provincial Crisis management Committee, support peace advocates, enhance public information
and awareness, greater social pressure against hostile armed groups, strengthen
collaboration among stakeholders,
continued vigilance in safeguarding the peace and security in the community,
generate support from government, non-government, and civil society organizations as well as the
international organizations in developing culture of peace, and remain
steadfast to our mandate. Col Gapay stressed that the military is ready for the worst scenario.
On the other hand, Police
Senior Superintendent Madid M. Paitao, Provincial Director of the Lanao del
Norte Provincial Police Office based at Pigcarangan,Tubod, this province said
that the peace and order situation in the province is relatively peaceful as the police has
succeeded in neutralizing armed groups and sustained peace through the
implementation of public safety and security plans. He said
the crime volume in the province has reached 1,216 crimes and increased the crime clearance efficiency. He said the increase in crime volume is
attributed to realistic recording of crimes, while the increased in clearance
efficiency for the past three (3) months is due to close supervision and follow
up on cases.
PSSupt. Paitao said the police
has arrested two (2) persons, rescued
three (3) victims, and recovered twelve (12) stolen animals. He said the police has also intensified its
campaign against illegal fishing, illegal gambling, wanted persons, and cattle
rustlers, among others. PSSupt. Paitao said that the police continues to
utilize out modeled equipment and facilities in their fight against criminals
in the promotion of peace and security in the communities.
In another development, Engr.
Camelo Enrique B. Libot, provincial director of the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) said that the beneficiaries of the PAMANA Projects in the province include the
towns of Tangcal, Kauswagan and Munai. He
said the PAMANA projects involved medical and health centers as well as water
project. He said the project of Poona Piagapo was re-aligned. Director Libot
also said that there is a need to organize the PPOC to include representative
of civil society organizations.
Gov. DImaporo asked the local
chief executives of the beneficiary towns to confirm the acceptance of the said
projects. Mayor Fatima Tomawis of Tangcal, and Mayor Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan
confirmed the acceptance of the PAMANA projects in their respective
municipalities, while Mayor Muammar Maquiling of Munai was not able to confirm the projects as he
was represented by his Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Felix Bandojo. Gov. Dimaporo asked Mayor Maquiling to
confirm the PAMANA projects in his town in the next PPOC meeting. Important
matters such as peace, safety and
security of the provincial community were raised by municipal mayors.
Mayor Neshreen Eleanor D.
Lantud of Pantao Ragat questioned the installation of checkpoints in the
community without signboards or vehicles for proper identification. She said
these checkpoints should be installed properly because there are leaders in the
province who are having family feuds. She said to avoid untoward incidents, the
military and police officers should do something to correct checkpoint manning
lapses. Mayor Joselito Miquiabas of Bacolod inquired on the measures adopted by
the military and the police to check threats for the safety and security of the
provincial community. He said, “We are
not ready for war, but we are ready to receive investors, especially when our
project in Pagayawan will push through.” Gov. Dimaporo claimed that some 100
MILF members were fully armed when they entered Tambo, Munai to conduct a
meeting. He said the MILF members should
not be allowed to enter community centers in Lanao del Norte when armed, but
they may do so when they are unarmed.
In answer to the reported
meeting of the MILF members who were said to be fully armed, Lt. Col. Leomar
Jose Doctolero, Battalion commander of the 15th Infantry Battalion
based in Kauswagan, clarified that no
MILF entered Tambo, Munai to conduct
meeting. He said the MILF members held
their meeting somewhere in Tamparan, Munai, which is part of the Camp Bilal
area. He said we have our limitations.
We cannot attack them because the ceasefire agreement
in Lanao is in full force and effect. He
said after their assembly the MILF members dispersed and went home. He said the military coordinates closely with the MILF through the
Ceasefire Committee to maintain peace and prevent the violation of the
ceasefire agreement. He said the
military is not sleeping on the post. He
said the military talks about people’s safety upon waking up in the morning and
even when the people are already fast asleep.
The Government and the MILF
had signed a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro as a solution to end the
Bangsamoro problem in Mindanao.
Asked by the governor if it is
alright with him that the MILF will enter Lanao del Norte with firearms, Musa
Sanguila said the MILF should abide with the agreement signed between the
government and the MILF without directly answering the question with a yes or
no. He said the community is the first
line of defense, He said we have to build and re-build relations with Muslims
and Christians in the communities. He
said we have strong coordination in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Other municipal mayors and
participants made their comments and
observations regarding peace and security.
Mayor Rommel Arnado of
Kauswagan said, “Kauswagan is worried. We have to establish contingency plan as
we will be protecting the community. He
added, “We will not allow our people to swim again.” He concluded, “We will
hold the line and negotiate.” Mayor Rafael C. Rizalda of Maigo said that the
civilian communities must be protected.
He said we don’t lke our people to suffer, like what happened in
Zamboanga City. He said the lawless
elements will not penetrate the communities without having civilian hostages.
He said we have to protect ourselves.
Gov. Dimaporo said the
province, the military, the police and other members of the PPOC should move as
one pursuing one direction to preserve peace in the province.
A Memorandum of Agreement to
promote peace, safety and security in the province was signed by Governor Dimaporo, Brigade
Commander Gapay and Police Provincial Director Paitao. Gov. Dimaporo adjourned
the PPOC meeting after all other matters were taken up and after all
participants had been given the opportunity to raise questions, make comments and observations.
Also present in the PPOC
meeting were Provincial Vice Governor Cristy Atay, provincial board members, local chief
executives, military battalion commanders and company commanders, police
municipal station commanders,
representatives from national line agencies, and non-government and
civil society organizations. With reports by Malyne Gungob.
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