Written by Baina T. Samayatin

Camp Siongco, DOS, Maguindanao – Some 90 officers and men of the Maguindano Provincial Police Office (PPO) of PNP PRO-ARMM and that of the 6^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army participated in the Peace Dialogue with Security Sector conducted on October 29, 2015 at Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

The dialogue was organized and facilitated by a cluster of four local civil society organizations (CSOs) spearheaded by the Moro Women Development and Cultural Center, Inc. (MWDECC), Mindanao Action for Peace and Development (MAPAD) Initiatives, Inc. Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Inc. (KFPDAI) and the Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace in the Philippines, Inc. (BCJP).

Mr. Samsodin C. Amella, MAPAD Executive Director, said in his opening remarks that the said dialogue was aimed at raising the awareness of the participants on the progress of the peace process particularly on the Normalization Component and gathering their commitment to continuously support all peace-related undertakings of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“It is one of the series of activities we are currently implementing under the “Building Autonomous and Stable Institutions and Communities for Bangsamoro Advancement through National-level and Grassroots Organizations and Networks (B-BANGON)” project in partnership with the Australian Government and The Asia Foundation (TAF),” Amella said.

The main resource persons of the said activity were Undersecretary Zenonida F. Brosas, Co-Chairman of the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) of the GPH, and Mohammad Nasif, Co-Chairman of JNC of the MILF. They discussed the progress and gains of the peace process focusing on the Normalization Component.

In his message, 6ID Commander, Major General Edmundo R. Pangilinan, said that for the 17 months of commanding the division, he can totally say that he is an advocate of peace manifested by the actions and decisions he made.

“It is also my belief that no matter how difficult it maybe, all it needs is the will to continue supporting fellow peace advocates in order to make things happen despite the odds; because when these efforts will finally be realized, the victory will be sweeter and more tasteful,” Pangilinan said.

He declared, as the Kampilan Division Commander, that the 6ID will always be willing to work for peace. They will live up to their role as the defenders and the protectors of the people against any threat that will attempt to trample upon democracy in this side of the country.

“We recognize that it is not only through force that peace can be achieved but more so, it can be attained through understanding the complexities that caused war in the first place. Your soldiers intend to be part of the solution and not the cause of the conflict; that, I am very certain of,” he added.

The leadership of Maguindanao PPO also expressed its full support to the peace process and all peace-related undertakings of the GPH and the MILF.

PSupt. Jilbin Bungcayao said, “Ang PNP ay naniniwala na kung walang peace and order po ay hindi  magkakaroon ng progress and prosperity for development of a certain area.”