The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) have finished forming and training the first Joint
Peace and Security Team (JPST) Monday, June 1 that will be deployed in agreed
areas in the Bangsamoro to help in the decommissioning process.
The said training had the full support of the leadership of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police
(PNP).
The Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on
the Bangsamoro (CAB) mandates the JPSTs to track and document private armies
and other armed groups; help reduce and control weapons; support the observance
of the ceasefire agreement; work on security arrangements for peace
process-connected personalities and events; and support dispute resolution
initiatives on the ground.
6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army commander Major
General Edmundo Pangilinan, who oversaw the graduation of the first JPST,
expressed that he “could no longer see the differences between the government
forces and the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces).”
The commander emphasized that peace, long been prayed for by
all sectors in Mindanao , could only be
attained through unity. “Now we are one. We have a lot of experiences, the
BIAF, the AFP, the PNP, including the civilians who suffered so much. We shed
tears, perspire and bled. I believe that because of these experiences we should
stop these fights.”
MILF Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) head secretariat
Toks Ibrahim said the formation of the first JPST was another concrete proof of
the gains of the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF. “The
training was successful despite the differences between the participants.”
Brigadier General Carlito Galvez, Jr., chairperson of the
GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), commented
that “ang dating magkaaway at magkakatunggali ngayon ay magsasama-sama sa
iisang layunin na palaganapin ang katahimikan sa buong Mindanao (Former enemies
and foes now work together to spread peace in Mindanao )."
The International Monitoring Team (IMT) M-10 mission also
joined the ceremony and recognized the the JPST’s vital role in the
normalization process. Mission deputy head Admiral Dato Pahlawan Khairuddin Bin
Mohd Arif lauded the members of the JPST, proclaiming the team will contribute
greatly to the success of the peace process to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao .
BIAF Commander Gordon Sayfullah gave assurances of his
command’s full support for all the JPST’s activities and undertakings in the
Bangsamoro.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=769135
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