Video file: Message of Commander Abedin Sanguila during
the ceremonial turn-in of weapons, translated by PSSUPT Paitao.
Video by Jun Enriquez
MNLF turn-in high power firearms in Lanao
By Jun Enriquez
Bacolod, Lanao del Norte (Sept.
24, 2015) – It was a mountainous area of the former MNLF camp Datu Tomanong in
Barangay Pagayawan, Bacolod, Lanao del Norte to celebrate the “Panagtagbo sa
Kalinaw”, it means convergence for peace in celebration of the National Peace
Consciousness Month 2015, organized and spearheaded by the Pakigdait, Inc., a
civil society organization based in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, in cooperation
with the Department of social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of the Presidential
Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP),
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and local Government
(DILG), with the theme, “Pagkakaisa
tungo sa patuloy na Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran,” it means, unity towards a
continuing peace and development.
 |
| Lanao del Norte Border Command MNLF members with their turn-in high powered firearms. |
As part of the conflict
transformation program, a ground breaking ceremonies of Pagayawan-Dimarao farm
to market Road had a distance of 1.2 kilometers, another 1.2 kilometers farm to
market Road in Datu Tomanong, Pagayawan and a 1.2 kilometers farm to market in Pagayawan–Delabayan
west. This include livelihood projects with six (6) lives carabao dispersal,
seeds and seedlings for planting, farm implements, machineries and equipments,
a development projects from the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) of the
OPAPP funded by the National Government.
During this day, people came
together to witness the turn-in of high powered firearms by the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) border command with at least 200 members led by
Commander Abedin Sanguila, a supporter of MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari. Hundreds in attendance during the event were coming
from the people and public officials of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, the Military,
Philippine National Police, Civil society, religious sector and the MNLF
families.
 |
| OPAPP Usec Luisito "Louie" Montalbo |
 |
| Bacolod Municipal Mayor Joselito Miquiabas |
The 12 high powered firearms that
were turn-in are following, four (4) units of M-16 rifle armalite, two (2)
units M203 grenade launcher, two (2) units Rocket propelled grenade (RPG), one
(1) unit Barrett rifle caliber .50, one (1) unit machine gun caliber .30, one
(1) unit M-14 rifle, one (1) unit pistol 9mm berretta. All these weapons were
put into the box and properly locked and received by PSSUPT Madid Paitao and
Col. Gapay for proper custody.
Bacolod Municipal Mayor
Joselito Miquiabas in his welcome message, emphasized the theme, “Pagkakaisa tungo sa patuloy na Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran”.
Miquiabas said that the people of Bacolod should continue to be united towards
the achievements to a lasting peace and prosperity. He said people enjoyed the
benefits of peace especially from the PAMANA livelihood projects for the MNLF members
funded by the OPAPP. Miquiabas said there is no more hassle in terms of
transporting their farm produce to the market because access road from farm to
the market place is now in good condition.
 |
| Musa Mohammad Sanguila, Executive Director, Pakigdait, Inc. |
In a rationale, Musa Muhammad
Sanguila said for two reasons on the day’s celebration, first, was the Eid’l
Adha to sacrifice ourselves in the context of Islam. Second, as a peace builder, witnessing the
community-based management program especially the transformation of Commander
Abedin one’s a MNLF commander into farm manager. Sanguila said Today’s
“Panagtagbo sa Kalinaw” is very special because it will be going to witness the
turn-in ceremony of 12 cruiser weapons of firearms of commander Abedin. The
government’s gratitude for the development project they received was the PAMANA
project. This is a way of contributing the attainment of peace not only in the
province of Lanao del Norte but also in the entire Mindanao.
Sanguila said inventory of
firearms was jointly conducted by the Philippine army and PNP. He said this
activity is not a balik-baril program, nor the turnover of fire arms, much more
not an act of surrender, but it is within the framework of the MNLF -
Government peace process. Sanguila said the unexpected positive reason is
putting the firearms at the hands of the revolutionaries beyond use or useless.
He said this activity is a classic example of the success of the Internal peace
and security program (IPSP) Bayanihan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
and in Lanao del Norte, headed by Col. Gilbert Gapay, Brigade Commander of the
2nd mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade Philippine Army.
 |
| Govt. officials led by OPAPP Usec, Montalbo met MNLF members during the ceremonial "Panagtagbo sa Kalinaw" |
In a message of MNLF border
commander Abedin Sanguila in a Maranao dialect translated into English and Tagalog
dialect by PSSUPT Madid Paitao, PNP Provincial Director for lanao del Norte,
said the reason for the event was held this day was due to the atrocities
happened in Zamboanga city by the MNLF Misuari faction three years ago against
the government forces and held hostage hundreds of civilians. During that time,
the MNLF commanders in Lanao del Sur coordinated commander Abedin Sanguila and
convinced him to allow their men with 200 armed MNLF forces from Lanao del Sur
to launch an attack in Lanao del Norte including Iligan City to divert the
attention of the government forces from the Zamboanga City siege. During that
moment, commander Abedin was in a dilemma to decide if he will allow the plan
of the MNLF from Lanao del Sur. Abedin asked more time to evaluate the
situation but prevailed in his heart the peace message not to allow the plan to
happen. In that instance they had a meeting with Mayor Miquiabas together with
Col. Demy Tejares, the former Brigade Commander of the 2nd
Mechanized “Magbalantay” Brigade and PSSUPT Madid Paitao. Commander Abedin said
he is not keen to agree of what was happened in Zamboanga will happen in Lanao
del Norte including Iligan City. Later on after their meeting, Abedin informed
his counterpart commanders in Lanao del Sur not to push through with their
plan. Likewise, the MNLF group of Lanao del Sur respected Abedin’s decision and
the plan to attack Lanao del Norte and Iligan City was aborted.
 |
| Commander Abedin, 2nd from right, turnover the RPG to PSSUPT Trampe & Col. Macasero, during the ceremonial turn-in of weapons. |
Abedin said that his enemies
are those proliferating illegal drugs, thieves, kidnappers and other
criminalities. He became MNLF commander not to wage atrocities against the
government and people but to fight against the enemy of the people. Abedin said
he believed the sincerity of the military, PNP in Lanao del Norte and the OPAPP,
were the basic reasons he was very confident to talk for peace with them for
good. Abedin said that war is not a solution to problem but he believed on dialogue
is the best option for better understanding for peace. In the end Abedin said
he and his men agreed to turn-in their firearms to the government and in
exchange they received development projects.
Commander Abedin said in the
early years in his life he slept with his guns for security and kept it in good
condition. He said he will not allow his children to grow up with guns but instead
he will teach them the proper living, send them to school and become good
citizen. Abedin said he is thankful to the government for giving them the
opportunity to transform their lives into better citizens and access
sustainable livelihood for the welfare of their families and community.
 |
| Col. Gilbert Gapay, center, preparing to keep the RPG weapon in the box for safekeeping. at the background is Lt. Col. Doctolero bringing with him the same RPG weapon. |
In his message, OPAPP
Executive Director and Undersecretary Luisito “Louie” Montalbo in his message
as Guest speaker said two years ago he is in doubt to come to the former Camp
Datu Tomanong (he suggested to delete the word camp),
because during that time the atrocities happened in Zamboanga City was just
newly ceased and neutralized by the government forces due to the MNLF siege by
the Misuari group and apprehensive of the spillover. Montalbo said he trusted
the local government for the security assurance and visited the area. During
that time on his first visit, it was very difficult to come at Datu Tomanong because
it takes two hours to arrive the place 10 kilometers from town proper of
Bacolod, due to the absence of access road the car will only traversed under
the coconut trees and in the farm just to reach the former camp Datu Tomanong, especially during rainy days your car will
slide down back where you came from. But now it will take only 15 minutes to arrive
in the area from town proper because the access road was already provided from
farm to the market place.
 |
| PSSUPT Paitao, center, preparing to keep the RPG weapon in the box for safekeeping. At right, Usec Montalbo & 3rd from right is MNLF Commander Abedin. |
Montalbo said that the problem
of commander Abedin now was how he can bring his farm produce to the market not
like before was the maintenance of his weapons. Montalbo said that it was a
change of heart by Abedin to turn-in their weapons for the benefit of peace. Sometimes
before some of the MNLF members were frustrated because it was very difficult
to undergo the processes of the government to access assistance benefits. It’s
not an accident that this event coincided with the feast of Eid’l Adha, the
Feast of Sacrifice for the Muslim brothers and sisters. montalbo said that “we
are reminded today that it is not easy to talk and work for peace but if we
rendered sacrifice we will be blessed by Allah.” He said trust was asked by
everyone because in the environment surrounded us we will hear the doubt and
fear. Montalbo said somehow we are given the chance to correct the past history
that caused armed conflict while tempt will continue that will results to armed
confrontation due to disagreements. Finally, Montalbo said the continue working
for peace should be included in our prayers to create a peaceful place to live
on and to do away with conflict, which is the call of God for peace. Prior to
the event, Montalbo said that the government is working hard for the passage of
the Bangsamroro Basic Law (BBL) pending before both houses in congress.
 |
| Gen. Macasero keep the proper placement of the Barrett cal .50 |
In a statement, Col. Gilbert
I. Gapay, Brigade Commander of the 2nd Mechanized “Magbalantay”
Brigade, based in Iligan City said that the event was a victory for peace and
coincided with the celebration of Eid’l Adha festivities, the feast of
sacrifice. Gapay said it is big step in their efforts as part of the whole of
nation approach to win the peace not only in Lanao del Norte but in the whole
country. Gapay said it demonstrated the constant engagement with the MNLF in Lanao
del Norte and build relationship over time with the group of commander Abedin have
made a difference for the benefit of peace. He said bearing and use of arms is
not the way to effect change in a society but rather by peaceful means through
cooperation or “Bayanihan” is the right direction towards peace and
development. With reports & photos by Malyne Gungob.
No comments:
Post a Comment