Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Sep 7, 2023): Peace now reigns in Sulu
'Sulu is now Abu Sayyaf-free'SULU - Philippine authorities have finally declared the whole of the southern province of Sulu as Abu Sayyaf-free after decades of fighting with officials saying the extremist Muslim group had been defeated.
Members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council pose for posterity after the historic declaration that Sulu is now totally free from Abu Sayyaf influence. (Provincial government photo)
The declaration was made during Wednesday's Peace and Order Council Meeting held at the Capitol in Patikul town. The meeting was attended by senior military and police officials, led by Maj.Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11th Infantry Division; and Col. Narciso Paragas, the provincial police director, including the business and religious sectors and other stakeholders.
Governor Sakur Tan has thanked the national government and security forces and the public for the unwavering support to the peace and development efforts of the municipal and provincial governments. Tan said the Tausug people are now enjoying the hard work and persistence of various sectors in achieving long and lasting peace in the southern province. Citing government data, Tan said the local economy is doing well with traders enjoying the stable peace situation.
With Sulu reaping the dividends of peace through co-ownership of the peace efforts by the different sectors and by collaboration with the provincial government, in co-creating new realities for Sulu, Tan called on partners and stakeholders to sustain all peace efforts.
He said the mass surrender of Abu Sayyaf members through the Community Support Program Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and efforts of the provincial and municipal leaders resulted in the improved peace and order situation in Sulu, one of six provinces under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Many of the former Abu Sayyaf members are now living with their families after undergoing skills and livelihood training programs, and benefited from the financial assistance from the national, municipal and provincial governments. Others have been employed as tour guides and some have put up their own businesses.
Tan congratulated the military and municipal mayors, including the religious sector and other stakeholders “for their roles and sacrifices and for a job well done in achieving this excellent result.” The Council also issued a resolution for declaring Sulu as Abu Sayyaf-free.
The declaration was made during Wednesday's Peace and Order Council Meeting held at the Capitol in Patikul town. The meeting was attended by senior military and police officials, led by Maj.Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11th Infantry Division; and Col. Narciso Paragas, the provincial police director, including the business and religious sectors and other stakeholders.
Governor Sakur Tan has thanked the national government and security forces and the public for the unwavering support to the peace and development efforts of the municipal and provincial governments. Tan said the Tausug people are now enjoying the hard work and persistence of various sectors in achieving long and lasting peace in the southern province. Citing government data, Tan said the local economy is doing well with traders enjoying the stable peace situation.
With Sulu reaping the dividends of peace through co-ownership of the peace efforts by the different sectors and by collaboration with the provincial government, in co-creating new realities for Sulu, Tan called on partners and stakeholders to sustain all peace efforts.
He said the mass surrender of Abu Sayyaf members through the Community Support Program Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and efforts of the provincial and municipal leaders resulted in the improved peace and order situation in Sulu, one of six provinces under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Many of the former Abu Sayyaf members are now living with their families after undergoing skills and livelihood training programs, and benefited from the financial assistance from the national, municipal and provincial governments. Others have been employed as tour guides and some have put up their own businesses.
Tan congratulated the military and municipal mayors, including the religious sector and other stakeholders “for their roles and sacrifices and for a job well done in achieving this excellent result.” The Council also issued a resolution for declaring Sulu as Abu Sayyaf-free.
The governor said he is fortunate to have witnessed the varied condition and significant situation in the recent past, up to the present status that we have in Sulu, today. “I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me to have witnessed and to experience more than five decades of various socio-political conditions and significant events in Sulu’s timeline,” he said.
Prior to the meeting, Tan also led a forum discussion on “Violent Extremism and Terrorism: The Sulu Multi-Sectoral Collaboration Experience” at the Sumadja Hall of the Sulu Area Coordinating Center in Patikul town. The forum was attended by Kenneth Yeo, Senior Research Analyst at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who discussed “Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Southeast Asia.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Prior to the meeting, Tan also led a forum discussion on “Violent Extremism and Terrorism: The Sulu Multi-Sectoral Collaboration Experience” at the Sumadja Hall of the Sulu Area Coordinating Center in Patikul town. The forum was attended by Kenneth Yeo, Senior Research Analyst at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who discussed “Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Southeast Asia.” (Mindanao Examiner)
http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2023/09/peace-now-reigns-in-sulu.html
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