Kalinaw News: Military solidifies partnership to end terrorism in Sulu

Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 25, 2022): Military solidifies partnership to end terrorism in Sulu



Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista, Jolo, Sulu – March 25, 2022 Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu, together with the JTF Sulu subordinate units, attended the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting held at Sumadja Hall, Sulu Area Coordinating Center (SACC) in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu, on March 25, 2022, to discuss the current peace and security situation as well as to address the challenges in sustaining the peace and order in the Province of Sulu.

In a statement, Sulu Provincial Governor Abdusakur M Tan, Chairperson of the Sulu Peacr and Order Council (PPOC), expressed his gratitude to the security sectors, local chief executives, head of agencies, and other stakeholders of their cooperation and commitment of stable peace and order being felt in Sulu.

Gov. Tan said, “We are very grateful to our security sectors, the military and the police, of their professionalism, passion, and dedication of bringing peace and order in Sulu.”

“I can say that Sulu’s security landscape is improving as manifested by the growing influx of visitors coming from different agencies visiting Sulu. Most importantly, Sulu’s economy and the tourism industry are blooming. Our kababayan have so many places to go, and they are now free to roam anywhere in Sulu,” said Gov. Tan.

Gov. Tan stressed that “as we sustain pur gains, we must also have to sustain the support for former violent extremists (FVEs) and their communities through our “Balik-Barangay” Programs in order to have a lasting peace in our province .”

In the said meeting, Joint Task Force Sulu Civil-Military Operations Officer Col. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos apprised the members of the council of the current security situation, best practices, and ways ahead of the JTF Sulu on its peace, security, and development campaign. Likewise, Sulu Provincial Director Police Col. Jaime Mojica apprised the body of the data of criminality indexes, anti-criminality campaign, as well as the current peace and order efforts to include the ways forward of the PNP in the province of Sulu.

Police Col. Mojica said that the Sulu PPO is in close coordination with the JTF Sulu in ending terrorism. He also informed the council that the PNP, as a deputized by the COMELEC, is preparing for the security of the national and local elections.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Patrimonio reassured the commitment and full support of the JTF Sulu’s peace and security efforts in Sulu.

“Your security forces here in Sulu will continue to perform its mandated task to support and collaborate with the local government units to bring lasting peace and sustainable development in the island of Sulu,” said Maj. Gen. Patrimonio.

“To the members of the council, particularly the local chief executives, our partnerships and collaborative efforts have been proven effective as manifested by the improved security environment and growing number of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members going back to the folds of the law. Let us continue our quest for lasting peace by convincing the remaining members of the ASG to lay down their arms, be with their families, live peacefully, and start anew,” Maj. Gen. Patrimonio added.

The Sulu Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) is a body composed of local chief executives, head of the security forces, and chief of agencies in-charge in resolving issues and concerns pertaining to peace and order matters.

Dubbed as the first quarter Sulu PPOC meeting, it is intended to make preparation, recommendations, proposals, and strategies that would effectively respond to the peace and order challenges in the province of Sulu.

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