Kalinaw News: Joint Task Force Central Peace Dialogue to Resolve Conflict in South Upi

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 14, 2021): Joint Task Force Central Peace Dialogue to Resolve Conflict in South Upi



CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The Joint Task Force Central and the 6th Infantry (KAMPILAN) Division initiated a peace dialogue to address conflict in South Upi, Maguindanao held at the headquarters of 57th Infantry (MASIKAP) Battalion in Barangay Mirab, Upi, Maguindanao on January 11, 2021.

Major General Juvymax R. Uy, Commander of 6ID and JTF Central called for the dialogue after the series of incidents in the said municipality which resulted to the burning of houses, evacuation of hundreds of families, ambush of the convoy of Mayor Reynalbert Insular, and the harassment of the vehicle of SB Member Basit Kamid.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Pondanera, Commanding Officer of 57th IB said that peace and security is a shared responsibility, thus violence must be stopped to properly address problems and provide lasting solution to the conflict.

Major General Uy, gave chance to all the interested parties to air their sentiments by exclusively talking to them by group to determine the root cause of the problem.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, 6ID Spokesperson and Commander of the 6th Civil Military Operations Battalion presented during the meeting the Conflict Resolution Strategy of the JTF Central as the framework for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and quickly address the needs of the more than 500 families affected by the conflict.

“We will create the Task Force Ketenanek to help facilitate the resolution of the conflict, secure the communities, and diffuse the tension by repelling the armed lawless groups in the area”, said Lt. Col. Atilano.

Through this mechanism, the TF “Ketenanek” or TF “Katahimikan” in Teduray dialect will provide steps to unite the tri-people in South Upi and create a peaceful community by reconciling the conflicting parties through their local government unit, the Provincial Government of Maguindanao, and the BARMM government while the Security sector assures to provide adequate efficient Security Forces, according to Lt. Col. Atilano.

All the Stakeholders in attendance have signified their commitment to help end the violence and they supported the peace framework mechanism.

“In Behalf of the LGU South Upi, we’re glad that the 6ID initiated this dialogue to stop this conflict, your presence is an indication that all of you are peacemakers”, said Mayor Insular.

On the other hand, Major Gen. Uy has this to say – “Tayo ay nasa civilized world at wala na tayo sa wild-wild west, where the rule of the gun follows, hindi na ganyan ngayon, nasa demokrasya na tayo, at simula ngayon walang magdadala ng baril sa inyong mga lugar except the security forces para matigil na ang cycle of violence”, he stated.

JTF Central will now facilitate the safe return of the internally displaced families and facilitate the quick peaceful resolution of the problem to bring normalcy in the area.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/joint-task-force-central-peace-dialogue-to-resolve-conflict-in-south-upi/