Peace advocates declare
“All Out Peace” in Lanao
By PHIL PA-LAN
MAIGO, Lanao del Norte (March 25 )
– A peace rally was conducted today at the Maigo Central School Gymnasium to
promote peace in Lanao del Norte and discourage war.
Dubbed “Panagtagbo Alang Sa
Kalinaw”, the one-day peace rally was
held in celebration of the 2015 Lanao Month of Peace in line with the Provincial
Ordinance No. 01-2008 which declared the whole month of March as the Lanao Month of Peace.
The peace rally was spearheaded by
the Civil Society Organization Lanao del Norte Partnership for Peace and
Development (CSOLN-PPD) headed by Chairman Musa Mohamad Sanguila, Director of
Pakigdait, Inc. with the support of the
multi-sectoral groups which include the local government units of Maigo,
Tangkal and Lanao del Norte, the
religious sector, the academe, women and youth sector, national government
agencies, such as the Department of Education (DepEd), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process (OPAPP) headed by Secretary Teresita “Ging” Q. Deles, and
non-government organizations such as the Non-Violence Peace Force, among
others.
The celebration started with the
“Panagtagbo Sa Kalinaw” Peace Walk participated in by the Civil Society
Organizations, People’s Organizations, Religious Leaders, Women and Youth
Sectors representing the North Delegation and the AFP, the LGU, the NGA and the
PNP, representing the South Delegation.
The two delegations marched towards each other and met at the center
ground of Maigo Central School followed
by handshakes and peace greetings by the
two delegation members.
An interfaith prayer was led by an
Ustadz for the Muslim delegates, and Bishop Stephen L. Villaester for the
Christian delegates, followed by the
singing of the Philippine National Anthem accompanied by the Molave Warrior Band of the 15th
Infantry Battalion.
Municipal Mayor Rafael C. Rizalda
of Maigo acknowledged the guests and participants as he welcomed them to the peace rally and Maigo, Lanao del Norte, while CSOLN-PPD
Chairman Musa Sanguila explained the objective and rationale of the activity. He said the “all out war” was declared on
March 22, 2000 and we declare an “all out peace” today, March 25, 2015. He said the declaration of the whole month of
March as Lanao month of peace was an initiative of then Provincial Governor and
now House Representative Imelda “Angging”
Q. Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte.
He said similar activities were held in Kauswagan, Bacolod and soon in
Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte.
Provincial Vice Governor Ma.
Cristina N. Atay read the Provincial Ordinance declaring the month of March as
Lanao month of Peace. She said it was in
line with a Provincial Board Resolution, expressing the aspirations of the people to
continue building peace in Lanao del Norte, and moved by then PBM Casan
Maquiling and seconded by PBM Mastura Usman and unanimously carried by the
Board.
Col. Gilbert Gapay, 2nd
Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander, who represented Brigadier General Gerardo
Barrientos, Jr., Ist Infantry Division commander said, “Peace begins with a
smile” as he asked everyone in the school gym to give their sweetest smile and
smile to everyone around them.
Col. Gapay said, “Fifteen (15)
years ago in March 2000, the government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) had a bloody clash in Lanao which resulted into loses of lives and
many other things. He said the incident
is still fresh in the minds of some of us, but the people had risen up and
focused on activities leading to progress and development and embarked on other
undertakings to continue the momentum for growth and development in the
community.. He said through the
leadership of the visionary governor, Hon. Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo, the
province has succeeded in maintaining peace in the provincial community as well
as embarked on socio-economic projects to uplift the living conditions of the
people.. He said the AFP will continue
to be your partner in the promotion of peace and development in Lanao del
Norte. He said the AFP will stand
against people who disturb the peace and threaten the security of the
area. He said the AFP which implements
the Bayanihan IPSP will continue to collaborate with the people in the
promotion of peace in the communities.
He said without your support, we can not attain our goals of peace and
development. He said the AFP wants to
bring economic development down to the grassroots level.
Col Gapay said the security situation in Lanao del Norte
is stable and peaceful as he stressed that the peace talks in Lanao del Norte
is very much alive. He added the
ceasefire agreement is still holding in Lanao del Norte.
Col. Gapay said with the collective efforts of all stakeholders
in the province, the local government units, the civil society organizations
and the security sector, including the local populace, we hope to continue the
peace efforts with more vigor and more intensity for the benefit of the entire
population of the provincial community.
In his peace message, Provincial
Governor Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo reminded the people that our true
objective is “walang gulo” (no
trouble). He said the higher officials
should concentrate in forging peace with the MILF, while the government
officials below will try to do their jobs in uplifting the lives of the
people. He said the Muslims and
Christians in Lanao del Norte are united that’s why Lanao del Norte is very
peaceful. He said the MILF should stay foot and not go out of their
areas with firearms. He said we have to
work together to keep peace and reach the grassroots. He said If there are more of the bloody
disturbances like what happened in Kauswagan and Kolambugan , we will all be
losers. He said we want to give the
people what they need. He said if they
need water, we will give them water, if
they need roads, we will give them roads, if they need classrooms, we will give
them classrooms, if they need teachers’ items, we will give them the teachers’
items, and if they need livelihood, we will give them livelihood. He said the people on the national level
should focus on the peace talks and the people at the local level will stand
strong and focus on keeping peace with
the active participation of the AFP and the PNP and the community at large. He said the MILF should not go out of the
boundary.
Gov. Dimaporo stressed that all of
us must move in one direction in the attainment of peace and order in the
community.
Gov. Dimaporo also said that the BBL core territory in Lanao del Norte should
only be limited to the six (6) municipalities of Tagoloan, Baloi, Pantar,
Munai, Tangkal, and Nunungan, but they have to vote in the plebiscite. He said If they decide to join the Bangsamoro
Government, then that is their decision.
He said the voice of the people in the six towns must be heard.
Police Senior Supt Antonio Taylan,
deputy regional director of PNP Region 10, who represented Police Chief Supt.
Agrimero A. Cruz, Jr. said the PNP would like the people to live in the absence
of fear, conflict and violence, He said the PNP has prepared the road map
towards keeping peace in Mindanao. He
said the Panagtagbo Alang Sa Kalinaw should serve its worthy cause and
strengthen peace in the country and the communities.
Primitivo Benetiz, who hails from
Maigo and an internally displaced person,
narrated how hard it is when there is
war. He said we have no security. He said as we work in the farm, we are always
ready for evacuation since we can not fight because we do not have any fire
arms being ordinary civilians. He said
that they are very thankful to the 15th Infantry Battalion for
supporting the Arms to Farms Program. He
said through the program he was able to go to Bukidnon for training on
farming. He said the program is very
good and hopes that the program will continue to benefit the IDPs and farmers.
He said he hopes that our high
officials will be blessed with enlightened minds and collectively and move for the protection of the civilians
and that peace will continue to reign in our communities.
For her part, Edna Yurong, who
represented the CSOLN-PPD said that they are very happy that the Lanao month of
peace started in 2008. She said in war
no one wins, everybody is a loser. She
said the group is very active in Bantay Bayanihan. She said the group is monitoring the
activities relative to peace in Lanao del Norte. She said the children are the beneficiaries
of the peace that we will provide them through our collective efforts. She said
life is very precious and we have no other choice but to embrace peace. She
said we have to work for peace.
She also said that with limited
funds, the group was able to install a water system for the use of five (5)
barangays.
For his part, MNLF Border Commander
Abedin M. Sanguila said, the MNLF Border Command supports the peace initiatives
of the national, provincial and local governments as the Command is also for
peace and not for war.
The lady of ceremonies read the resolutions
of the Sangguniang Bayans of Maigo, Tangkal, Bacolod and Magsaysay expressing full support to the peace
initiatives of the government and Secretary Deles and the OPAPP. The SB resolution of Tangkal expressed
support of the peace initiatives of the national and local governments, as it
also expressed support of the peace initiatives of President Aquino. The ABC Resolution of Bacolod expressed
support of the on-going efforts of the government on the PAMANA Projects. The SB resolution of Maigo honors Secretary Deles and adopted her as daughter of
Maigo. The other SB resolution of Maigo expressed full support of the peace
initiatives of Secretary Deles and the OPAPP. The SB resolution of Magsaysay supports Sec. Deles and the OPAPP as one of the advocates of lasting
peace in the country.
Undersecretary Luisito G. Montalbo
who represented Secretary Teresita
“Ging” Q. Deles of the OPAPP said, that peace celebration like this is a
very important occasion as it intends to promote peace and prevent war which is
costly. He said in war, many loss their
jobs, schools are closed, and many become widows and orphans. He said we say no to war and yes to peace. He said the holding of the peace celebration
is a credit of the leadership of the provincial government. He said the
Panagtagbo Alang sa Kalinaw is a significant event. He urged the people to work together in
making Lanao del Norte and the country
peaceful communities. He said through
the joint efforts of the various sectors, the celebration of the Lanao month of
peace has become a reality. He said our
children will not experience war because we are doing everything to prevent
war.
Usec Montalbo also thanked the
municipalities for their resolutions of support of the peace initiatives of
Sec. Deles and the OPAPP.
In an interview with media after
the program, Usec Montalbo said that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is the product of
the collective efforts of the government, the MILF, the community members and
the stakeholders. He said we hope that
the BBL will be enacted in Congress as a response to our commitment to
peace. He said the celebration of the
Lanao Month of Peace counters the voices that spoil the commitment to peace.
In his closing remarks, Provincial
Board Member Tawantawan Cauntongan said , that peace has no boundaries as it
affects the family, the neighbors, and the community at large, irrespective of
religion and ethnicity. He said Muslims
and Christians should be united to achieve peace in Lanao del Norte. He also urged the people in government to
work together in keeping peace in the province.
He said the Mamasapano incident will not happen in Lanao del Norte
because we are united in working for peace in the province. He said as chairman of the Local Monitoring
Team, the people should be vigilant, He
said any suspicious persons should immediately be reported to authorities to
prevent any untoward incident in the community. He also thanked the people who
joined the celebration of the Lanao month of Peace saying that those who joined
the celebration had the laudable intention to promote peace in Lanao del Norte.
After the program, all the
participants and stakeholders signed the covenant for peace signifying their
commitment to work for peace in Lanao del Norte followed by the tossing of
balloons and the release of the doves by
both, the North and South delegations.
Also present during the peace rally were Lt. Col. Leomar Jose M.Doctolero, 15th
Infantry Battalion commander; Police SSupt. Madid Paitao, provincial director
of the Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Office; Former Board Member Aguam
Malo, municipal administrator of Tangkal, who represented Tangkal Mayor Fatima
Tomawis, Maigo municipal and barangay officials, DepEd officials, military
commanders, police officers and many others.
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