MPOS Minister Hussein Muños leads the 5th Bangsamoro Public Order and Safety conference held Nov. 30 -Dec.1 at Acacia hotel Davao City (Hamdan Badrudin/BIO)
DAVAO CITY — The Bangsamoro Government, through its Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), pledged to strengthen peace and security efforts beyond the transition period during the 5th Bangsamoro Public Order and Safety Conference held on Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, 2024, at Acacia Hotel in this city.
With the theme “Peaceful, Secure, and Orderly Bangsamoro Beyond Transition,” the event emphasized collaboration among stakeholders to address pressing issues across the region.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim emphasized the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders to sustain peace and security especially the security sector.
“We are gathered as one Bangsamoro, united in our common pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity in the region. Your presence here signifies our collective commitment to forge an environment where Bangsamoro can live peacefully, thrive without fear, and where every community can flourish in harmony,” Ebrahim said.
He also stressed the need to address specific threats, including armed individuals in communities and attacks on public and religious spaces.
“The challenges we face in our beloved Bangsamoro are multifaceted and deeply rooted. Family feuds, the prevalence of loose firearms, the existence of private armed groups, and the scourge of illegal drugs threaten our peace and stability. These issues, along with various forms of criminality, undermine the very foundation of our society and hinder our progress toward lasting peace,” he added.
Collaborative Efforts with Security Sector
AFP-WestMinCom Deputy Commander BGen. Taharudin Ampatuan lauded the BARMM government for its commitment to partnering with the security sector.
“Western Mindanao Command has always been making strides, making good of its promise to support and ensure that the gain of peace and development in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is going to be sustained,” BGEN Ampatuan said.
He noted a 40% reduction in family feuds due to joint efforts with BARMM over the past year.
Meanwhile, MPOS Home Affairs Service, Law Enforcement Coordination Division Chief Bhenhar Ayob stressed the importance of collaboration with peace stakeholders particularly Law Enforcement agencies.
“BARMM transition is now at a critical stage with the end of transition and first Parliamentary election at sight. It is a must that coordination, collaboration and complementation among us,” Ayob said.
“Looking at security, public order and safety of the region in the recent past, one can say that it is absolutely imperative to really consolidate our efforts to sustain our gains and prevent the hawks from spoiling what we have already for our constituents,” he said.
MPOS Minister Hussein Munoz emphasized the crucial aspect of dismantling the lawlessness elements and drug syndicates among others.
“I would like to emphasize the critical aspect of dismantling private armed groups and addressing the issue of loose firearms in connection to illegal drugs. These groups not only perpetuate violence and fear but also undermine our efforts to create a stable and secure environment,” Munoz said.
He noted that these groups, often tied to illegal drug activities, significantly hinder Bangsamoro’s progress and development. Additionally, the widespread availability of loose firearms fuels their operations, perpetuating violence and instability in the region.
This initiative reflects the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for its people beyond the transition period. (Majid Nur/BIO)
