NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
BARMM And National Government Officials Meet To Discuss Law Enforcement In Region
Photo credit: OPAPRU
In an effort to sustain peace and order in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), top officials from the BARMM met with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen law enforcement operations and close coordination.
BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua held a meeting with PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Sec. Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr., and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. on Tuesday.
The meeting, initiated by SAP Sec Lagdameo in compliance with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aimed to involve the BARMM leadership in maintaining peace and order in the Muslim Mindanao region. SAP Lagdameo emphasized the need to sustain and protect the gains of the peace process in Mindanao, stressing the importance of continued collaboration among parties to address the security situation in the region.
As part of the collaborative effort, a series of command conferences will be held on the ground to brief military and police commanders, particularly those under the Western Mindanao Command (WMC) and the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR). These conferences will ensure that all parties are aligned regarding law enforcement operations and other security coordination.
The BARMM leadership pledged their support to the security sector in combating criminal groups and other illegal activities in the region. Chief Minister Ebrahim, who is also the Central Committee chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), highlighted the crucial role of the BARMM in assisting law enforcement and maintaining peace and order.
He emphasized the long-established respect and mutual trust between the security sector and the MILF, stating that the parties have diligently followed the protocols of the security mechanism, such as the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), to address lawless elements in the region.
PNP Chief Acorda assured that police operations would be guided by accurate intelligence, fair judgment, and strict adherence to legal processes. Drawing from his experience in Northern Mindanao, he emphasized the importance of building good relationships with the community to combat criminality. He cited engagement with former MILF commanders, such as Commander Abdullah Goldiano Makapaar, as a successful example of interdicting lawless elements. Acorda highlighted the positive relationship between the PNP and the MILF, demonstrated by joint activities such as sports festivals and the provision of livelihood programs.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Galvez affirmed that the parties had agreed to work closely together to ensure peace and stability in the Muslim region. He underscored the importance of a greater sense of security during the transition process of the BARMM, guided by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and SAP Lagdameo. Galvez also mentioned the ongoing decommissioning of MILF combatants and their weapons, the disbandment of private armed groups, and the management of small arms and light weapons throughout the BARMM as part of the peace agreement implementation.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed completing the decommissioning process of the remaining combatants. Over 24,000 out of the 40,000 combatants have already been decommissioned, and it is projected to be completed before the first election in the BARMM in 2025.
The Independent Decommissioning Body, composed of foreign experts and members of the government and MILF, oversees the process, which goes beyond the physical aspect of rendering firearms inoperable. It involves a transformation process from being combatants to becoming peaceful and productive civilians.
Presidential Peace Adviser Galvez emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among all sectors of society, including local leaders and civil society, to address criminality, settle disputes among feuding clans, and resolve conflicts in the BARMM. He echoed the call to unlock the dividends of peace, as expressed by Albay's 2nd Representative Joey Salceda, highlighting the importance of greater synergies in the region.
BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua held a meeting with PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Sec. Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr., and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. on Tuesday.
The meeting, initiated by SAP Sec Lagdameo in compliance with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aimed to involve the BARMM leadership in maintaining peace and order in the Muslim Mindanao region. SAP Lagdameo emphasized the need to sustain and protect the gains of the peace process in Mindanao, stressing the importance of continued collaboration among parties to address the security situation in the region.
As part of the collaborative effort, a series of command conferences will be held on the ground to brief military and police commanders, particularly those under the Western Mindanao Command (WMC) and the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR). These conferences will ensure that all parties are aligned regarding law enforcement operations and other security coordination.
The BARMM leadership pledged their support to the security sector in combating criminal groups and other illegal activities in the region. Chief Minister Ebrahim, who is also the Central Committee chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), highlighted the crucial role of the BARMM in assisting law enforcement and maintaining peace and order.
He emphasized the long-established respect and mutual trust between the security sector and the MILF, stating that the parties have diligently followed the protocols of the security mechanism, such as the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), to address lawless elements in the region.
PNP Chief Acorda assured that police operations would be guided by accurate intelligence, fair judgment, and strict adherence to legal processes. Drawing from his experience in Northern Mindanao, he emphasized the importance of building good relationships with the community to combat criminality. He cited engagement with former MILF commanders, such as Commander Abdullah Goldiano Makapaar, as a successful example of interdicting lawless elements. Acorda highlighted the positive relationship between the PNP and the MILF, demonstrated by joint activities such as sports festivals and the provision of livelihood programs.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Galvez affirmed that the parties had agreed to work closely together to ensure peace and stability in the Muslim region. He underscored the importance of a greater sense of security during the transition process of the BARMM, guided by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and SAP Lagdameo. Galvez also mentioned the ongoing decommissioning of MILF combatants and their weapons, the disbandment of private armed groups, and the management of small arms and light weapons throughout the BARMM as part of the peace agreement implementation.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed completing the decommissioning process of the remaining combatants. Over 24,000 out of the 40,000 combatants have already been decommissioned, and it is projected to be completed before the first election in the BARMM in 2025.
The Independent Decommissioning Body, composed of foreign experts and members of the government and MILF, oversees the process, which goes beyond the physical aspect of rendering firearms inoperable. It involves a transformation process from being combatants to becoming peaceful and productive civilians.
Presidential Peace Adviser Galvez emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among all sectors of society, including local leaders and civil society, to address criminality, settle disputes among feuding clans, and resolve conflicts in the BARMM. He echoed the call to unlock the dividends of peace, as expressed by Albay's 2nd Representative Joey Salceda, highlighting the importance of greater synergies in the region.
Jul 7, 2023
