The One Hundred Fifty (150) members of the 1st Batch- GPH-MILF Joint Peace and security Team (JPST). At the podium is Mohammad Nasif, Co-Chair, JNC-MILF (Luwaran photo)
About One Hundred Fifty (150) members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF), Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that comprised the 1st Batch of Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) culminated their joint training in a simple ceremony on December 6, 2015 at the Old Maguindanao Provincial Capitol at Simuay, Sultan Kudadart, Maguindanao.
Prominent
personalities and representatives from the Government of the Philippines (GPH)
and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-Joint Normalization Committee, Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and PNP, the International Monitoring Team
(IMT), the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), United Nations International
Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, the
International Decommissioning Body (IDB), the Philippine Campaign to Ban
Landmines, and Maguindanao province attended the ceremony.
It can be
recalled that on November 24, Seventy five (75) members of the MILF-BIAF that
comprised the 1st Batch of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) from the
Moro front received briefing in preparation for their training held at the BIAF
General Headquarters in Camp
Darapanan
No less
than MILF Peace Panel chair and also chair of the Bangsamoro Transition
Commission (BTC) Mohagher Iqbal, headed the briefing, joined by Chief of Staff
of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) Sammy Al Mansor, Joint
Normalization Committee Head for MILF Mohammad Nasif, Toks Ebrahim, OIC
Co-Chair of JPST-MILF and Butch Malang, OIC-Chair of the Coordinating Committee
on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of the MILF.
JPST is one
of the Transitional Components of Normalization identified as operating units
composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National
Police (PNP), and the MILF’s BIAF. As one of the mechanisms, stated in the
Annex on Normalization, JPST shall work for the maintenance of peace and order
and the stability of the areas mutually identified by the GPH and the MILF.
In his
opening remarks, Toks Ebrahim said, “You now have the reason to be happy
because you were able to reap the fruits of your sacrifice. This kind of
training is a great achievement and that, this achievement shall serve as a
special tool and weapon in working for peace”.
“By this
time, I am sure, we have shared ideas, knowledge and concepts that are
important guide in the promotion of peace and development in Mindanao or
Bangsamoro Homeland”, Ebrahim also said.
Ustadz
Norul-am Abdullah, Chair of Committee on Da’wah and Masajid Affairs, who gave
‘Words of Wisdom’ said “Be cautious, never go along with deceivers or those who
are on the wrong path that spreads the wrong concept on the value of peace.
This is a historical event where we adhere to the peace process. You graduates
serve as role models for the youth and the next generation. We must promote
peace”.
Uz.
Abdullah also mentioned the true meaning of Islam. He said that Islam is
derived from the word ‘salaam’, which means “Peace”. As-Salaam, he said, is one
of the attributes of Allah Subhanaahu Wataala.
P/ Senior
Superintendent Greg Soliba, GPH-JPST Training Director and Oshama in Ali, MILF-
Training Director, presented their respective graduates. They were confirmed by
Major General Leo Cresente Ferrer for the GPH, and Mohammad Nasif, Co-Chair,
JNC-MILF.
USec.
Zenonida F. Brosas, Co-Chair of JNC-GHP was supposedly to confirm the graduates
for the GPH but was not able to do so due to conflict of schedule.
Nasif, in
his message said, “Let us look at the effects of the peace process. In our
visits to various AFP and PNP outposts and checkpoints, we passed by peaceful
communities. They have positive perceptions of the peace process. We went to
Lanao, going around Mindanao to explain the
advantage of the peace process. We, therefore ask all parties, the AFP, PNP and
the BIAF to help each other so that we can achieve and live in peace”. He then
congratulated the two training directors for the job well done.
Major General Ferrer congratulated the graduates for completing their 10-day training as members of the Joint Peace and Security Team. He urged them “to continue learning, and never stop from here, instead you must move forward in accordance with the peace process”.
BrigGen. Glen Macasero, GPH-JPST member and Chair of the GPH-CCCH told the graduates in his message to be thankful and proud that they were chosen. He asked them to internalize their task and to be aware of the situation in the area, the stakeholders, whom and what problem to be addressed of, if possible. He also urged them to know the culture in the area, to establish network, coordinate, and to communicate.
He quoted
Filipino Hero, Antonio Luna who said in his bio-epic film starred by John
Arcilla, “It’s not a joke neither easy to unite a divided people”.
He reminded
the JPST graduates on why and how they can perform their job.
Those who
graced the program were Director Carlos T. Sol, Member of JPSC-GPH and Head of
the combined Secretariat, Jun Mantawil of the MILF Peace Panel General
Secretariat, Tony Fish of Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, Fred Lubang of
Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines, Titon Mitra of UNDP, Rebecca Pankhurst of
UNICEF, PSupt. Jaime Mojica, OIC Regional Operations and Plans Division as
representative of PChief Supt. Ronald R. Estilles of PRO ARMM, and Col. Ralph
Raul Sespene, Asst. Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operation, OG7, who
represented MGen. Edmundo R. Pangilinan, Division Commander of the 6th Infantry
Division.
Others who
attended the ceremony were 1st Admiral Dato Khairudin Mohammad Arif and Mr.
Martogi Harahap (Media Officer for Indonesia
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/719-gph-milf-jpst-members-culminate-10-day-training
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