Civilian stakeholder support needed in beating terror, other security threats -- Lorenzana

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 18): Civilian stakeholder support needed in beating terror, other security threats -- Lorenzana

With civilian support needed in turning the war against terrorism, kidnapping, piracy, and illegal drugs for the better, ranking defense and military officials visited Sibutu, Tawitawi -- the country's southwestern most island-- to seek the help of the former and visit troops stationed there Wednesday.

The group was headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año and heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

During his visit to Sibutu, Lorenzana met with municipal and barangay officials led by the Sibutu Mayor Alshefa Pajiji, the chair and membership of the town's barangay captains association, and military commanders in Tawi-Tawi.

There, he expressed the need for the cooperation of local leaders in the national well-being.
Lorenzana also emphasized that it is not enough that the military provides the security. Good governance and the cooperation of the people are essential ingredients for progress to set in.

During the meeting, Pajiji lamented the continued kidnapping incidents around the island which adversely affected his municipality.

The former said he wanted this stopped and committed to his "esteemed visitors" his support and that of his constituents to help in the campaign to end the criminal activities of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) among other concerns.

Año assured Pajiji of the AFP's focused and unrelenting campaign against the ASG.

He, however noted, that the ASGs can only thrive in places where they can find refuge or support.

Hence the people of Sibutu can help a lot by denying the ASGs sanctuary and logistics, the AFP chief said.

"The people should be actively involved in monitoring the arrival of strangers or the happening of criminal activities in the island. The resident should organize themselves to be active partners of government in providing security, livelihood, and development opportunities," Año added.

As this develops, Calbi Nami, president of Sibutu's barangay captains association, sought the assistance of government for solar lights to illuminate their streets and communities to uplift the lives of some 30,000 residents of the town.

This request was met positively by Año who mentioned that AFP partner-stakeholders have, in the past, successfully embarked on similar solar lights project.

He said his commanders can call on the said groups anew to discuss the possibility of engaging on another project for Sibutu thru the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi under the command of Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon, Jr.

Earlier in the day, Lorenzana's delegation from the defense establishment met with the local and religious leaders of Simunul Island that hosts the oldest mosque that became the precursor of Islam religion in the Philippines.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=956160