2nd Mech Bde turn-in 535 loose firearms to win peace not war

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 2^nd 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 2^nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, Philippine Army at Ma. Cristina, this city. “Today is the 27^th 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.

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 2^nd 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 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade headed by Col. Dauz together with the two battalion commanders, Lt. Col. Manalo and Valdez of 5^th and 4^th Mechanized Battalions, respectively.

Budiongan recalled during their Captain years, he was the Commander of the 52^nd light Armor company in year 2000 supporting the 402^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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)