Army, ex-MILF members plant ‘seeds of peace, hope’ in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23, 2019): Army, ex-MILF members plant ‘seeds of peace, hope’ in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Government soldiers, together with former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members and residents, joined hands to help preserve the environment by conducting a tree planting activity in Barangay Saniag of Ampatuan town in the province on Sunday.

1Lt. Angelou Peralta, commander of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Company under the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, said the tree planting activity is part of her unit’s social responsibility in communities in partnership with other stakeholders.

“When we plant trees, we also plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope,” Peralta said in a statement Monday.

The tree planting activity, one of the many outreach programs that the Army has been undertaking in its area of assignment, was conducted in Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, on Sunday morning.

Peralta said those who joined the activity were Barangay Saniag chairperson Sheradin Sangki, Zaldy Malaguianon, former MILF area commander, and residents.

Peralta said more tree planting activities, in partnership with other stakeholders, are already included in their program of activities within the year in Ampatuan town.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1081157