A peace caravan of more than a hundred of vehicles organized in Basilan by civil society organizations in time during the signing of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was prevented by the Police from entering the City of Isabela, Basilan.
Tony Sakkalahul, Regional Manager of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) for ZamBas Region, who spearheaded the peace caravan in collaboration with youth and professional sectors, Chambers of Commerce, MILF political and civil committees, expressed the disappointment and dismay of the group of the disapproval of the police.
Accordingly, Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos did not approve the permission requested for the peace caravan.
Clad in full battle gear, the police instead formed a barricade to block the entry of the peace caravan into Isabela City.
“The participants from the different organizations who voluntarily joined the activity to manifest their support and gratitude to both the GPH and the MILF for striking the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) denounced the unpeaceful act by the police and the local government of Isabela for not allowing a peace caravan to be undertaken by the civil society groups,” Sakkalahul stressed.
“We were unhappy and dismayed upon knowing that the request for such activity was vehemently denied by the City’s Chief executive-Mayor Charrylyn Santos,” he said.
In an interview with Chavacano TV patrol reporter from Zamboanga (R.J. Rosalado) at the assembly place, he lamented “we are surprised by the decision of the City Mayor by not allowing us to enter the city proper because our activity is for peace and in support of the program of President Aquino. We are unarmed and in fact request and coordination letters were already sent properly 3 days prior to the scheduled activity. The communication was addressed to the offices of the City mayor, the City Police, the PNP ARMM provincial Command, the Army Special Forces and the Traffic Management Command but still the peace caravan was rejected.
The police barricades for a peaceful activity and assembly is a wanton violation and curtailment of basic rights of the people to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in the constitution, said Prof. Ahmad Al-Amin, an organizer representing the Autonomous Muslim Chamber of Commerce in Basilan.
However, the motorcade and simple program upon the facilitation and kind assistance from the PNP ARMM Provincial Command, decided to re-route its passage to the BDA office at Geras Village within the outskirts of Isabela instead of travelling around city proper to avoid unnecessary confrontation with the city police. A short program and Thanksgiving (DUWAA SALAMAT) where successfully held at the BDA Function Hall.
Aleem Kaiser A. Totoh, an spiritual adviser of the group gave a word of wisdom prior to the closing prayer (duwa-a), where he advised the participants to be patient and persevere for the Almighty Allah is the exalter and a master of all judgement of his owned creatures. He narrated the challenges and sad experiences of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) when he tried to enter Makkah Al Mukarrama from Madina during his propagation period. He likewise extended thanks and appreciation to the participants and the PNP ARMM provincial Command through Chief Inspector Bartolome for their efforts in providing security to the motorcades.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/907-basilan-police-stops-caravan-for-gph-–-milf-bangsamoro-peace-deal
Accordingly, Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos did not approve the permission requested for the peace caravan.
Clad in full battle gear, the police instead formed a barricade to block the entry of the peace caravan into Isabela City.
“The participants from the different organizations who voluntarily joined the activity to manifest their support and gratitude to both the GPH and the MILF for striking the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) denounced the unpeaceful act by the police and the local government of Isabela for not allowing a peace caravan to be undertaken by the civil society groups,” Sakkalahul stressed.
“We were unhappy and dismayed upon knowing that the request for such activity was vehemently denied by the City’s Chief executive-Mayor Charrylyn Santos,” he said.
In an interview with Chavacano TV patrol reporter from Zamboanga (R.J. Rosalado) at the assembly place, he lamented “we are surprised by the decision of the City Mayor by not allowing us to enter the city proper because our activity is for peace and in support of the program of President Aquino. We are unarmed and in fact request and coordination letters were already sent properly 3 days prior to the scheduled activity. The communication was addressed to the offices of the City mayor, the City Police, the PNP ARMM provincial Command, the Army Special Forces and the Traffic Management Command but still the peace caravan was rejected.
The police barricades for a peaceful activity and assembly is a wanton violation and curtailment of basic rights of the people to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in the constitution, said Prof. Ahmad Al-Amin, an organizer representing the Autonomous Muslim Chamber of Commerce in Basilan.
However, the motorcade and simple program upon the facilitation and kind assistance from the PNP ARMM Provincial Command, decided to re-route its passage to the BDA office at Geras Village within the outskirts of Isabela instead of travelling around city proper to avoid unnecessary confrontation with the city police. A short program and Thanksgiving (DUWAA SALAMAT) where successfully held at the BDA Function Hall.
Aleem Kaiser A. Totoh, an spiritual adviser of the group gave a word of wisdom prior to the closing prayer (duwa-a), where he advised the participants to be patient and persevere for the Almighty Allah is the exalter and a master of all judgement of his owned creatures. He narrated the challenges and sad experiences of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) when he tried to enter Makkah Al Mukarrama from Madina during his propagation period. He likewise extended thanks and appreciation to the participants and the PNP ARMM provincial Command through Chief Inspector Bartolome for their efforts in providing security to the motorcades.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/907-basilan-police-stops-caravan-for-gph-–-milf-bangsamoro-peace-deal
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