CMP forum organized in Negros

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 27, 2019): CMP forum organized in Negros

To promote and respect human dignity, and to achieve sustainable and peace and development in Negros.

That is the ultimate aim of the four Negros Island dioceses, Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Police in the establishment of the Church-Military-Police (CMP) Forum Negros.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday between Church leaders and top military and police officials in Negros Island to establish the CMP Forum, which will serve as an institutional platform for dialog in the island, also as an action mechanism to address issues and concerns that may emerge in the field.

CMP Forum –Negros was patterned after the Church-Military-Police Advisory Group that was established in 2018 to serve as a venue for forgiving harmonious relationship and cooperation between the four Roman Catholic Dioceses of Negros Island, AFP and PNP.

The revitalization of CMPAG to CMF Forum also came in the wake of the spate killings in Negros, that had claimed the lives of 50 persons from October 20 last year to July this year that, the four Negros bishops, described as staggering, citing the killings of 21 individuals within a period of over a week.

Fr. Chris Gonzales, Social Action Center director of the Diocese of Bacolod, said yesterday that military is not the solution to the decades old insurgency problem in Negros Island, and that it needs the cooperation of every sector of society.

Gonzales, who spoke in behalf of CMP Forum- Negros after the signing of MOU and initial dialogue at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City, said military and police officials were happy about the initiative being undertaken.

Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, 3rd Infantry Division commander, lauded the signing of the MOU, and expects that this will be the start of a closer and more amiable relationship between the Church, military and police.

“Rest assured that the military leadership is really serious in our mandate to facilitate peace in Negros. In every undertaking that we do, and as what I have learned in my childhood days, we always invoke the presence of God. With the blessings of God, we hope we will be able to finish our job in Negros,” Dolina said.

PBrig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director of Western Visayas, said yesterday that CMP Forum-Negros will help them immensely in the law enforcement campaign and public safety.

Pamuspusan added that the CMP Forum-Negros is taking a step forward in forging and strengthening a strategic partnership to bring peace and order, as well as promote human rights in Negros.

CMP Forum – Negros can expect our full cooperation and support in ensuring an open line of communication and capability enhancement program between the four dioceses of Negros Island and the AFP, he said.

The newly-signed MOU also serves as the baseline document for the Church, AFP and PNP to govern their engagements regarding realities on security, peace and order affecting Negros Island.

The CMP Forum MOU was signed yesterday by Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Kabankalan Bishop Louie Galbines, Military Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, Dolina, Pamuspusan, Brig. Generals Benedict Arevalo and Ignacio Madriaga, P/Colonels Ildebrandi Usana ,Romeo Baleros, Rizalito Gapas and Henry Binas.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/August/27/topstory5.htm