Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Sulu Gov seeks more cooperation with the AFP on crisis situations

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 29): Sulu Gov seeks more cooperation with the AFP on crisis situations

Sulu Governor Abdusakur "Totoh" A. Tan II sought the cooperation and full collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines especially in time of crisis situations like kidnapping incidents.

 In a press report, Governor Tan expressed dismay over how the military handled the case of two German kidnap victims Dr. Stefan Viktor Okonek and his wife Henrike Dielen. He stated his concern during a special meeting last October 20, 2014 at the Provincial Capitol with representatives from various sectors of Sulu Civil Society, government line agencies and institutions.

"We were not informed that the hostages were already rescued, it was only thru media reports that we became aware that they were already rescued Friday night (Oct 17) and in the custody of the Armed Forces," Tan said.

Moreover, he questioned the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) action of keeping the Special Action Committee (SAC) in the dark on the events recently, leading to and the subsequent rescue from the Abu Sayyaf of the two (2) German captives.

"The approved mandate of the committee during the 16 October 2014 Expanded PPOC Resolution was set aside, even though it was unanimously subscribed to by all council members present, including the PNP and AFP. The idea was upon the suggestion of AFP Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. John Bonafos, that the committee was created," Tan told sector and community representatives.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico O. Guerrero said in a statement that “the issue has already been resolved since the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP), General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr., personally visited the province of Sulu last October 24, 2014 purposely to apologize and consult with the provincial government, particularly with the Special Action Committee, and the people of Sulu for the resolution of this controversy.”

The said apology was lauded by Governor Tan and several of the local officials, while General Catapang pronounced the AFP’s willingness to assist the local government units and the PNP in the attainment of peace and development in the province thru the AFP-PNP Joint Letter Directives.

Sulu Provincial OIC information chief Sonny Y. Abing III said the Special Action Committee (SAC) is a unit created by the Sulu Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) mandated to oversee all law enforcement operations in the hostage situation and rescue of the two German captives, headed by the Sulu Governor, with the provincial chiefs of PNP and AFP, and civilian representatives, among its members.

The Civil Society organizations/groups (CSO) in Sulu, also strongly believe that the military must sincerely involve the participation of the community in the solution of the perennial problem of kidnapping.

"We must build trust between the people and our law enforcers to curtail criminality in the Province," a CSO representative said.

Position papers were submitted to the Office of the Governor from each sector and civil society groups expressing their sentiments and suggestion on possible measures to effect change and improve the organizational structures on public order and law enforcement, and to include community perspective on curtailing criminality in the province.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1421417190670/sulu-gov-seeks-more-cooperation-with-the-afp-on-crisis-situations

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