Mindanao Peace Process

TACURONG CITY  – As part of its community service and efforts to win peoples thrust and support, the Army’s 40th Infantry "Magiting" Battalion, under the leadership of Lt. Colonel Rogelio S. Gabi, distributed school supplies and slippers to the pupils of an elementary school in one of its areas of operation.

The activity was held recenlty at the Midpandacan Elementary School in Barangay Midpandacan, General Salipada K Pendatun, Maguindanao in time culmination of the Nutrition Month Celebration. Gen. SK Pendatun town is about 15 kilometers north of here. 

COTABATO CITY ---- The Western Mindanao Command is optimistic of continuing peaceful days in provinces troubled in past years by Islamic extremists, WestMinCom’s commander said Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of WestMinCom said there is peace now in Basilan and an improving security situation in Lanao del sur due to the cooperation in maintaining law and order among provincial officials, the military and police units deployed in the two provinces.

COTABATO CITY  – After a week-long negotiation, five members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered Thursday to military authorities in Talitay, Maguindanao and handed over assorted high-powered firearms.

Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the 6^th Infantry Division, said the rebels surrendered to the Army’s 90^th Infantry Battalion of the 601^st Infnatry Brigade.

On his arrival from Maguindanao, WestMinCom Chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana was welcomed with a full military honors by the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees at the command headquarters at 4:30pm yesterday, July 4.

This was in connection with his promotion where no less than the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte donned his insignia on Wednesday night.

WestMinCom personnel and other invited guests joined LtGen Sobejana in a simple cocktail party held thereafter at the WMC Officers’ Club.

COTABATO CITY – Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, incumbent head of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6ID), has been named the new commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command (WMC) effective this week.

Major Arvin Encinas, 6ID Public Affairs Office chief, told the Manila Bulletin on Monday that Sobejana will official assume the WMC leadership on June 28 in formal turnover rites with predecessor Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega.

MAGUINDANAO - Army personnel will take over the areas in Maguindanao towns vacated by the Marines this week for deployment Sulu to augment security forces fighting the Abu Sayyaf in the hostile island province.

Senior 6th ID officials told this news outfit Thursday that Army personnel are now being positioned in Upi, South Upi and Datu Blash Sinsuat towns following the pull out of the 7th Marine Battalion lasy Sunday.

COTABATO CITY  – The military in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao had successfully brought warring Muslim families to a “peace table” inside its battalion headquarters to smoke the pipe of peace over the weekend.

It took several days for the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry (Lakan) Battalion to convince Muslim families locked in “rido” (clan war) to settle dispute peacefully.

COTABATO CITY -- Representatives of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding on “ceasefire-related functions” for the upcoming May 13 national and local elections.

The GPH and MILF were represented by their respective chairmen, Armed Forces of the Philippines Brig. Gen. Cirilo Thomas P. Donato Jr. and Butch P. Malang.

MAGUINDANAO -- The military is anticipating the surrender soon of more Islamic State-inspired militants seeing how their now reforming companions are benefiting from government socio-economic interventions.

The Maguindanao provincial government and the Army’s 601st Brigade again extended on Friday relief assistance to more than 30 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who surrendered in batches in the past two years via a domestic program meant to hasten their reintegration into mainstream society.