Kidapawan City – After 24 years, four former conflict areas in Tulunan town in North Cotabato were finally declared Zones of Peace through an ordinance which was recently approved by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Tulunan.
Max Casulukan, coordinator of the Tulunan Municipal Peace Zones Development Council, said that under the ordinance, no armed groups are to be allowed at the Bituan Zone of Life, Nabundasan Zone of Life, and Sitio Miatub Zone of Life, all in Barangay Tuburan; and Sitio New Alimodian Zone of Life in Barangay Banayal.
These areas were declared Zones of Peace in February 1990 through a resolution and urged all “armed actors,” including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, New Peoples’ Army (NPA), and local militias, to respect the “policy instrument.”
“This has been our dream. That these former war zones would finally be declared ‘zones of life and peace’ through a local legislation,” said Casulukan.
On Tuesday, Casulukan and his group would lead a peace dialogue in Tulunan where they would discuss the provisions of the ordinance.
Casulukan said they have already invited members of the Barangay Zones of Peace Development Council from Barangays Banayal and Tuburan; representatives from the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion, Sangguniang Bayan and the local chief executive.
Under the ordinance, “armed actors” that violate the ordinance could be sanctioned, he explained.
http://www.mb.com.ph/zones-of-peace-identified-in-north-cotabato/
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