MNLF leader turns in weapons to govt

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 30): MNLF leader turns in weapons to govt

  BACOLOD , Lanao del Norte — As a gesture of gratitude and peace act, a former combatant of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Lanao del Norte handed over to government a horde of 12 weapons under his personal possession last September 24, 2015.

‘I am conveying the firearms with sincerity in exchange for the goodwill shown by government in responding to my community needs, and this is showing my strong faith in the peace process, said the 66 year-old Abedin Sanguila, commander of a Bangsamoro Armed Forces (BAF) Division covering Lanao del Norte.

His crew-served weapons turned in were two RPG, one Barrett rifle, one machine gun (30 caliber) and seven firearms.

“I don’t need firearms anymore, and I don’t want these to be passed on to my children,” said Abedin, (speaking in Visayan) during the ceremony inside Camp Datu Tomanong in Barangay Pagayawan, Bacolod town, this province.

Representing Secretary Teresita ‘Ging’ Q. Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) to deliver an inspirational message of peace was Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo who most oftentimes attended peace-activity initiatives in the province. He lauded the peace activities in the province involving the community, the provincial and the local government units.

Commander Abedin of  MNLF Border Command with approximately 500 followers and his men are recipients of development aid through the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program that seeks to address the constrains that hinder their effective transition to civilian life.

For more than two-years, Camp Datu Tomanong was once a war-torn community that transformed into a progressive and peaceful community through OPAPP PAMANA projects coupled with education, training and teambuilding on culture of peace and reconciliation, said Musa Mohamad Sanguila, chairperson, PAMANA LANAW (LalankoKalinaw-Path to Peace).

PAMANA LANAW is an inter-agency body which acts as an oversight in the implementation of PAMANA projects in Lanao del Norte.

Musa Sanguila, who is also the executive director of grassroots peace building group Pakigdait, Inc., said the weapons will be stored in a steel case fabricated fo the purpose, with three locks-- one each for the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bacolod local government, and commander Abedin.

This arrangement is so because the turning in of the weapons is extraordinary, explained Sanguila.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1511443634667/mnlf-leader-turns-in-weapons-to-govt