Former ASG men, WestMinCom in historic `boodle fight’
Mindanao Peace Process • 21:15 PM Tue Nov 19, 2019
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By:
John M. Unson
The historic "boodle fight" was held at WestMinCom's headquarters. (Contributed)
COTABATO CITY --- Officials of the Western Mindanao Command and 39 reforming former Abu Sayyaf bandits from Basilan had a historic “boodle fight” lunch Tuesday, first ever in WestMinCom’s history.
The traditional military boodle fight banquet was held at WestMinCom’s Headquarters in Zamboanga City.
The activity was organized by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejena, commander of WestMinCom, and senior members of his staff core.
It was meant to show strong civil-military cooperation in pushing forward the domestic peace initiatives of Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman and House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman.
Hataman is the lone the congressional representative of the island province.
The 39 former Abu Sayyaf members were among more than 200 in Basilan who returned to the fold of law through the domestic Program Against Violent Extremism, or PAVE, in the past three years
The PAVE involves provincial leaders in Basilan, the WestMinCom, the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and different non-government organizations involved in peace-building activities.