Authorities, MILF vow to thwart spread of extremism, illegal drugs in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 27): Authorities, MILF vow to thwart spread of extremism, illegal drugs in Maguindanao 

Military, police, local officials and rebel leaders have forged an agreement to prevent the spread of Islamic extremism and illegal drugs in Maguindanao province.

The agreement was signed by Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, Mayor Midpantao Midtimbang Jr of Guindulungan, Ghadzali Jaafar, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) political affairs chief, and other local and police officials.

Also present during Sunday's summit against terrorism and lawlessness were Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. and Abuhuraira Udasan, a foreign-trained Islamic theologian and grand “mufti” (cleric) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Dela Vega said the summit was meant to unite efforts of local leaders, the police, the military and leaders of the local communities in preventing the entry of religious extremism

Before the signing of the covenant, Udasan shared the "correct interpretation" of Quran, stressing it promotes life.

Guindulungan town in Maguindanao is part of the area of operation of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which expressed loyalty and sympathy to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Galvez earlier said there are a dozen ISIS-inspired terrorist cells in Mindanao, mainly in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both Muslim-dominated communities.

The multi-party cooperation was also aimed at helping the national government’s anti-drug campaign, with local leaders vowing to be in the forefront to eradicate illegal drugs in the province.

Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson, PNP-ARMM deputy director, represented Chief Supt. Reuben Sindac, ARMM police regional director.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=975225