Posted to the 102nd Infantry Brigade (PA)Facebook Page (Jan 15, 2024): 102 Bde Commander Visits JPST-Tungawan Station
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay Province - Brigadier General Elmer B. Suderio, the Commander of the 102nd Infantry (Igsoon) Brigade visited the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) Tungawan Station located at Brgy Datu Tumanggong, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province on January 15, 2024.
The primary objective of the visit was to gain insights into the current thrusts, activities, issues and concerns of the JPST-Tungawan, that impacts its role of overseeing peace in the MILF communities that are undergoing normalization.
The JPST which was composed of personnel from AFP, PNP, and MILF, is one of the Normalization Bodies that was created by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Panels in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). It has a mandate to conduct peacekeeping operations in agreed areas of GPH-MILF Panels, which was directly under the supervision of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) through the Joint Peace and Security Council (JPSC).
Since the 102Bde holds jurisdiction over the area where JPST-Tungawan executes its mandate, the Brigade assessed various concerns such as Personnel, Equipment, as well as Operations to provide support to the JPST.
During the visit, Brig. Gen. Suderio was apprised with an Information Briefing from Police Executive Master Sergeant Galelie B Alam, the team leader of JPST-Tungawan, highlighting the team's status and recent achievements. One of which is their commendable contribution to the peaceful and successful conduct of the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) 2023.
The special guests attending the event included Honorable Carlnan Climaco, Municipal Mayor of Tungawan; Commander Suaib Edris and Ustadz Kahal Jamaa, the Commander and Deputy Commander of the 113th Base Command MILF respectively; and Honorable Daniel Balanda, Brgy Chairman of Brgy Datu Tumanggong, Tungawan. Also, Brig. Gen. Suderio was accompanied by Colonel Eddie M Pilapil, the Deputy Brigade Commander of 102Bde; and Lieutenant Colonel Anshary Pumbaya, the Commanding Officer of the 106th Infantry (Tigpanalipod) Battalion; and CPT Jancel S Mabulay, the Civil Military Officer of 102Bde.
In his message of support, Lt. Col. Pumbaya expressed gratitude to JPST Tungawan.
"We commend JPST Tungawan for their unwavering dedication to duty, ensuring the peace and stability of Tungawan,” Lt. Col. Pumbaya said.
On the other hand, Commander Suaib Edris delivers his commitment, "On behalf of the 113th Base Command, MILF, we committed to fostering cooperation and working collaboratively with government troops for a more peaceful and stable region."
Likewise, Honorable Carlnan Climaco expressed that, "We extend our gratitude to JPST and pledge our continued support to ensure the success of peace initiatives in our municipality."
In his remarks, Brigadier Gen. Elmer Suderio commended JPST-Tungawan for their selfless passion for keeping the peace and supporting the development in the region.
“To the dedicated men of JPST-Tungawan, continue the good work. Rest assured that the 102nd Infantry (Igsoon) Brigade stands firmly committed to supporting you in fulfilling your primary mandate of keeping the peace in this area and for looking after the well-being of our community," Brigadier Gen. Suderio added.
The visit highlighted the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in maintaining peace and security, paving the way for sustainable development in the region. The 102nd Infantry Brigade reaffirms its commitment to supporting JPST initiatives for the overall benefit of the community.
This visit is also in line with the guidance of Major General Gabriel C. Viray III, the Commander of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, and Lieutenant General William N. Gonzales, the Commander of the Western Mindanao Command to aggressively support the normalization process in collaboration with OPAPRU.
