COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim engaged in an in-depth discussion with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command (AFP WestMinCom) on Oct. 9 to discuss latest advancements of peace progress, security sustainability, and economic growth in the island provinces of the region.
Commander Major General Steve Crespillo of the AFP WestMinCom shared that the United Nations (UN) has been constantly coordinating with them regarding the assessment of peace and security in the region, specifically in island provinces.
“I spoke with Sulu Governor Tan, and he declared that the province is already Abu Sayyaf-free, which guarantees the peaceful implementation of BARMM programs in Sulu,” Crespillo said.
“Even the soldiers there usually do not carry firearms when they go down from the camps. The confidence level has already risen,” he added.
In relation to this, CM Ebrahim underscored the continuous efforts of the Bangsamoro Government in addressing family feuds (rido) as well as the illegal possession of firearms which are among the leading risks in the provinces.
“These efforts are part of our normalization process,” Ebrahim emphasized.
The Chief Minister also stressed the initiatives of the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) in rido settlements and ensuring peace in the region.
“This is great, for a number of disputes were already resolved in the past,” Crespillo responded, highlighting the evident results of the Ministry’s interventions.
Ebrahim further mentioned the reconciliation mechanism of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that addresses the conflicts among different groups. The Commander then expressed their advocacy to collaborate with the local political leaders at the barangay level when it comes to the reinforcement of immediate conflict resolutions.
“The problems shall be consulted at the barangay level since they know better,” Crespillo stated.
Regarding the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) elections, the Chief Minister encouraged the active cooperation of the AFP WestMinCom in monitoring peace and order.
CM Ebrahim also outlined the BARMM Government’s policy on trading, emphasizing the plan to require taxation in both barter and normal trading, and request the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to require passports for trading in order to protect Bangsamoro traders from unlawful activities and eliminate rampant cases of exploitation.
Ebrahim then discussed the BARMM’s digitalization efforts to improve communication system in remote areas, and mentioned the potential resumption of Zamboanga-Sulu flights.
Overall, the discussion encompassed the 4th, 5th, and 11th priorities of CM Ebrahim’s 12-Point Priority Agenda, focusing on sustaining peace and security, promoting socio-economic development, and developing a system of reliable and resilient infrastructure for communications and air transportation in BARMM. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
