L-R: BGen Budiongan, Col Dauz, Gov. Angging Dimaporo, MGen Murillo & Col. Ponio |
Iligan City - Just 24 days ago upon assumption as commander
of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade by no other than Col. Robert C. Dauz, Philippine Army, gathered
a meeting of the chief executives from the 22 municipalities including the city
of Iligan, at the brigade headquarter here on April 5, for an executive session
to end the proliferation of loose firearms. Dauz said, it is their mandate and
tasks based on existing rules and regulations especially on the Presidential
proclamation number 216, declaring the state of martial law and suspending the
writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. The martial law was extended
until December 31, 2018.
Turned-in of loose firearms |
On May 2, 2018, the Presentation of turned-in of loose
firearms ceremony was conducted at the headquarter of the 2nd
Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, Philippine Army at Ma. Cristina,
this city. “Today is the 27th day after my assumption of command, we
are able to witness the turned-in of 535 firearms from the 18 municipalities
and one city not included the ammunitions and explosives awaiting detonation of
the disposal team,” said Dauz during the turn-in ceremony here. He added, “This
ceremony is a manifestation of the response of the calling of the President to
put an end of loose firearms.” The Mayors also attended the turned-in ceremony.
Dauz said, the turned-in represents 83 percent of the
accomplishments composed of 18 municipalities and one city with the remaining
17 percent composed of four municipalities to follow, and urged those chief
executives to expedite the process of loose firearms. He said, “we are a
government we should work hand-in-hand.” He added, “we cannot wait forever and
there is no forever.”
Dauz said they will abide their sworn duty to provide peace at all cost.
Dauz said they will abide their sworn duty to provide peace at all cost.
He said they also agreed with Mayors to establish the “Kasabotan”
park, means agreement, to plant different species of trees representing the
turned-in of loose firearms and resembles the covenant of the Mayors of Lanao
del Norte and Iligan City to end the proliferation of loose firearms in their
area of responsibility. He said, “this reminds us that cultural and religious
diversity should never be a hindrance to attain common understanding and common
purpose.”
Col. Dauz, left, awarded a token to BGen Budiongan |
The “kasabotan” park is a joint project of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army and the local chief executives of
the province of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City, with purposes on their
commitment to end the proliferation of loose firearms. Second, to create
awareness among stakeholders in the significance of collaboration towards
lasting peace. Third, help preserve the ecosystem and bio-diversity. Fourth,
improve the landscape and aesthetics thereby adding tranquility in the camp. Lastly,
encourage the future leaders particularly the youth for utmost concerned issues
that affects the humankind, environment protection and peace towards
development. Dauz ended in saying “let’s make a habit of making peace”
In her message, Lanao del Governor Imelda “Angging” Q.
Dimaporo, said to possess gun is part of the culture of the Maranao use to
protect their families especially in Muslim communities due to family feud
called “rido.” She said most of the guns in the hinterland municipalities are
not license but in the coastal municipalities mostly are license.
MGen. Murillo, right, received token from Col. Dauz |
Dimaporo said, the 535 firearms turned-in from 18
municipalities will also reduce violence during the coming Barangay Elections
expected in some parts of the province identified as hotspots but now the
Comelec has not yet declared any of the Barangays as hotspots.
She said, the campaign to surrender loose firearms
painstakingly affects the gunowners but this is a program of President Duterte
to surrender loose firearms in all of
the Barangays to reduce if not prevent electoral violence. The provincial
government of Lanao del Norte showed the support of the campaign by asking
Barangay officials to surrender loose firearms presence in their barangay. There
are four out of 22 municipalities in the province of Lanao del Norte were not
able to surrender loose firearms but maybe still on process of looking for it.
“One gun one bullet will kill one life. Today there are 535
lives save at a minimum by making to turned-in the 535 firearms.” said Major General
(MGen) Roseller G. Murillo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commander, 1st
“Tabak” Division, Philippine Army. He added, there is an estimated of 2,800
loose firearms in the province of Lanao del Norte with a balance of 2,265 loose
firearms to surrender,” Murillo said, it is not the numbers of firearms to
turn-in but the important is to save lives. He said, the term turned-in is
use because we are not enemies that’s why not to use the term “surrender.” The
Mayors and Barangay chairmen were tasks to convinced their people to turnover
their firearms. This will benefit the people to avoid killing especially during
elections and live peacefully.
The attending Mayors of lanao del Norte |
Murillo said killings will scare investors to put up their businesses in
the localities. Economic security is very important for peace and development. He
said Peacemaking is not a one day activity but it is a daily, weekly and
monthly undertaking. “What we are doing now is a call for peace, a process of
peace and peace in itself.” Said Murillo.
Major General (MGen) Gilbert I. Gapay, AFP, Commander,
Mechanized Division, Philippine Army based in Tarlac, was the invited Guest of
honor and speaker, represented by Brigadier General (BGen) Felicisimo P.
Budiongan, AFP, Assistant Commander, Mechanized Division.
Budiongan said MGen Gapay was not able to come due to
conflict of schedules. Gapay extended his congratulations to the Mayors of
Lanao del Norte and Iligan City of winning the peace. Gapay and Budiongan expressed their love of the province of Lanao
del Norte including Iligan City and said “we are here of winning the peace.” They
also expressed their congratulations to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry
Brigade headed by Col. Dauz together with the two battalion commanders, Lt.
Col. Manalo and Valdez of 5th and 4th Mechanized
Battalions, respectively.
Budiongan recalled during their Captain years, he was the Commander
of the 52nd light Armor company in year 2000 supporting the 402nd
Infantry Brigade here in this camp. The then Captain Gapay replaced Budiongan
and later on the all-out-war in Mindanao brokeout on same year started in
Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.
In year 2015, the then Coronels Gapay and Budiongan returned
back in Lanao del Norte and were assigned as the Commander and Deputy commander
of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade here,
respectively. Cited the local chief executives before were the first generation
of Mayors but now the local chief executives are mostly sons and daughters who
are the second generation politicians.
Budiongan reiterated “we are here not to win the war but to
win the peace.” He said “that’s why we deeply involved in “rido” settlement
during our assignments in the 2nd Mechanized Brigade.”
Budiongan said he will retire in the next three months and
he will join the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) after his retirement in the
military. He said on joining the TFBM is another chance to serve the people of
Lanao del Sur where he started his higher academics in molding his life for
good.
Budiongan said he was a student in the Mindanao State
University (MSU), Marawi City for three years, 1979-1982, before entering the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) with the former chief of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) “Bato” Dela Rosa as his contemporary. He said during the
opening of classes at the height of Marawi siege in 2017, he insisted to open
the enrollment of classes in MSU because if MSU will be lost Lanao del Sur will
become nothing. He is ready to recommend to provide war tanks just to protect
MSU if necessary. He said security is not the concern of military alone it is
the concern of everybody. There must be cooperation among the stakeholders from
the local government, Civil Society, academe, traditional leaders among others.
Budiongan said the turned-in of firearms ceremony is an opportunity
to lessen the projected violence during the coming Barangay elections. He urged
all stakeholders to continue the peacemaking that has been started by winning
the peace through the whole of nation approach. (Reports and photos by Jun Enriquez, with reports by Salve Gimena)
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