Mindanao Peace Process

COTABATO CITY – Love can move mountains, so as the saying goes.

The old maxim rang true when the women who helped convince their would-be husbands to abandon the communist rebel movement tied the knot in a mass wedding in Antipas, North Cotabato on Thursday.

The pairs were among the 32 couples who were wed during the provincial government’s “Serbisyo Caravan,” described by officials as a one-stop-shop initiative for far-flung communities to access basic services and other assistance.

MAGUINDANAO --- The outgoing commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division relinquished his post Monday to a general well-versed in conflict-resolution in communities with interfaith and cross-cultural settings.

Major Gen. Juvymax Uy took over from Lt. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, now retired, via a traditional turnover rite at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

The event was presided over by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commanding general of the Philippine Army.

Labintatlong miyembro ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Figther (BIFF) sa ilalim ng Karialan faction ang nagbalik loob sa pamahalaan at sa hanay ng 33rd Infantry (MAKABAYAN) Battalion nitong umaga ng July 14, 2020.

“Naniniwala kami sa 33rd IB na sa pagtutulungan ng Kasundaluhan, Local Government Units, at mga kapulisan ay makakaya natin maging mapayapa ang ating pamayanan” Pahayag ni LTC Elmer M Boongaling, Commanding Officer, 33rd IB.

GEN. SANTOS CITY -  Four CPP-NPA rebels from Lake Sebu surrendered to authority on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at Sitio Lamfetok Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

COTABATO CITY --- Local officials settled Friday two bloody clan wars, one in Basilan and the other in Maguindanao, via separate peace covenants reached after tedious dialogues that lasted for months. 

The reconciliation of the families of Datunoey Pandita and Salahudin Ulama in Guindulungan town in the second district of Maguindanao was brokered by the leading datu in the municipality, Midpantao Midtimbang.

Midtimbang is a member of the 80-seat parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

MARAWI CITY – Life in a remote village in Lanao del Sur is expected to improve with the completion and expected turnover of a hanging bridge that gives sense of security and economic benefits to the locals. It will be turned over officially to the beneficiaries on March 6.

The Php6,985,403.55 worth hanging bridge project was built in Barangay Sawer, Masiu, Lanao del Sur, an isolated community located within the perimeter of Camp Bushra of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

COTABATO CITY --- More than a hundred more members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front got decommissioned Tuesday based on its peace deal with Malacañang.

The Independent Decommissioning Body and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process jointly facilitated Tuesday’s event in a public gymnasium in nearby Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.

The activity was capped off with the turnover by 106 MILF members of their firearms for subsequent safekeeping by the Turkish-led IDB.

COTABATO CITY --- Sometimes the best man for military gun proficiency competitions is a woman.

The Army’s 1^st Division awarded on Monday with a special citation Private 1^st Class Amera Lim for giving the Philippine Army honor and fame.  

She won a bronze medal in a pistol shooting competition during the 29^th Asian Armies Rifle Meet held November 16 to 27, 2019 in Bandung, Indonesia.

Lim is assigned in the 1^st Division under the Western Mindanao Command.