Tri-people in T’boli town hold peace rally

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 12): Tri-people in T’boli town hold peace rally

KORONADAL, South Cotabato -- Hundreds  of  Christian, Muslim, and  Lumad  residents  of Tboli, this province  gathered  at the   town’s public market  Sunday  to  express their  sentiments and  send  message of peace.

These residents, majority of whom  are  Tboli and Blaan from the  25 barangays  of the municipality,  marched to the  town’s  terminal  bringing  placards and  shouting  in  their mother-tongue “We  will never give financial support  to groups  that are not under the  government.”

Captain Rey  Balibagoso,  spokesperson of the  1002nd  Infantry  Brigade,  said  the  rally  was  held  after a three-day peace building seminar facilitated by the local government unit, Philippine National Police  and Armed Forces of the  Philippines.

“We in T’boli are peace-loving people. We don’t want to be involved in armed conflict. What we want are peace and development,”  said  Vice Mayor Grace Silva.  Mayor Dibu  Tuan, who was  out of town  during the  event,  earlier  expressed   support  for the  peace  rally.

At  the event,  participants  signed   support  of  commitment. Officers of the  Peace  and  Development Volunteers in the area, headed  by  federation president  Benjamin  Baladad, also  took  their  oath of  office.

Also present during the   rally were  Municipal  Peace and Order Council  chair  Ely James Simangan  and other  councilors, members of the  local  tribal council, religious  leaders headed  by  Pastor  Regalado  Bantilan,  Tboli Chief of Police PSInsp. Jose Marie  Simangan.

1002nd Brigade Commander Col. Ronald  Villanueva and 27th Infantry  Battalion  Commander Lt. Col  Ronald  Jess  Alcodia  were also  present.

In his message   Lt. Col  Alcodia  said  the   Army’s  ongoing   Peace and Development Outreach Program  has  helped  civilians understand  that they  too  have  roles and responsibilities   in the  fight against  insurgencies in their places.

 “We all know that purely military solution is inadequate in addressing this internal security concerns, thus PDOP is a holistic approach of the Philippine Army to address this multi-dimensional problem that required multi-faceted solution,” Alcodia emphasized.

Under the command and supervision of 1002nd Brigade, the 27th IB has deployed its Peace and Development Teams in upland barangays of T’boli, South Cotabato to conduct PDOP that

The   effort  has resulted in the   surrender of  5  troops of the New People’s  Army to  the  said  unit   recently.

Meanwhile, Col. Villanueva, said the solution to social problem is for all the stakeholders including the armed group to come together in the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan and work on our commonalities to attain peace and development.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1611421033090/tri-people-in-t-boli-town-hold-peace-rally