WESMINCOM awards bronze cross medal to IMT personnel

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 12): WESMINCOM awards bronze cross medal to IMT personnel

The Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) has recently awarded bronze cross medal to outgoing personnel of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) whose one year tour of duty ended on March this year.

In a statement, Col Rodrigo T Gregorio, WESMINCOM Public Information Officer (PIO) said the awards were given last February 25 in recognition of IMT personnel’s acts of heroism during their stint at the command from March 3, 2012 to March 23, 2013.

The awardees were composed of five Malaysians, three Indonesians, and two Brunei nationals. They were recognized for their efforts in monitoring the ceasefire agreement which led to the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Col. Gregorio said that Col. Halim of the Royal Malaysian Army and his team monitored and ensured the establishment of the plan for the development and humanitarian support that would complement the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“They ensured the implementation of guidelines of the ceasefire agreement and the Joint PGH-MILF Law Enforcement Operations against kidnappers and lawless elements in areas with MILF presence. With the collaborative efforts of Ad Hoc joint Action Group (AHJAG), Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), and WESMINCOM, they successfully facilitated the activities for the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) in MILF communities,” Gregorio said.

He lauded the awardees for they disregarded personal safety by actively pacifying and preventing armed confrontations between warring clans in Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte.

He said that together with (AHJAG), the awardees conducted numerous advocacies and focused discussions in the headquarters of the division and brigades on the ceasefire mechanisms and agreements.

According to Gregorio, the awardees have actively assisted GPH and MILF panels, Local Government Units (LGUs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during the conduct of 13 advocacies on the FAB.

These efforts greatly helped the local populace in deeply understanding the agreement in localities not covered by the proposed Bangsamoro and in covered provinces without MILF. They conducted limited civil military cooperation projects with the locals and engaged the AFP, PNP, LGUs, NGOs and the MILF in the area of monitoring (AOM).

“During their stint, they conducted peace advocacies to 30 interested groups, met all provincial governors, municipal mayors, some barangay captains, numerous NGOs, PNP and AFP commanders, and most MILF commanders,” he reported.

He also noted that last July 2012, the awardees had actively assisted GPH-MILF panels, LGUs, and AHJAG in bringing cooperation and establishing trust between 102nd Infantry Brigade and the MILF commanders in Tumangong, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province to prevent the operations of lawless elements.

“With GPH-MILF and AHJAG, they spearheaded confidence-building activities and measures between AFP and MILF in Basilan Province by setting up peaceful meetings between AFP Commanders and MILF Commanders in the area in January 2013 in Magkawa, Al Barka, Basilan,” he said.

Gregorio said that the event started bridging network, close relationship, law and order, and facilitates peaceful resolution of conflicts between leadership and members of both camps.

Together with AHJAG, LGU and 104th Infantry Brigade, the awardees were active in the settlement of conflict between Ustaz Amir Mingkong of MILF and the Bakkal family on Jan. 21, 2013 in Baag, Sumisip, Basilan.

The command is expecting a new batch of IMT soon to replace the outgoing personnel.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1421365670336