Army activates task force for peace, dev’t in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 3): Army activates task force for peace, dev’t in Maguindanao

Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 601st Infantry “Unifier” Brigade based in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, signs the Memorandum of Understanding creating Inter-Agency Task Force Magiting Monday. (Photo by 601st Brigade)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The Army activated Monday an inter-agency task force as a support mechanism for the government’s anti-drug, anti-illegal logging, peace and development and disaster response initiatives, an official said.

Brigadier General Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army's 601st Infantry “Unifier” Brigade based in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, said the Inter-Agency Task Force “Magiting” (IATF-Magiting) aims to attain peace, progress, and prosperity in the area of responsibility of the Army’s 601st Brigade."

The task force is composed of the clustered municipalities of Rajah Buayan, Mamasapano, Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Sultan Sa Barongis, all of Maguindanao and under the area of operation of the 40th Infantry Battalion (40th IB), a unit under 601st Brigade.

Carreon signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Saturday that officially created IATF-Magiting along with Rajah Buayan Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan, Mamasapano Mayor Tahirodin Benzar Ampatuan, Sultan sa Barongis Mayor Ramdatu Angas and Shariff Saydona Mustapha municipal administrator Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan who represented the town mayor.

The reactivation of IATF Magiting, Carreon said, aims to strengthen the collaboration between the above-mentioned municipalities to promote, administer and pursue the following mandates: development support, anti-illegal drugs campaign, peace and security, and disaster response operations.

The activity was witnessed by Col. Joel Abregana, the Army's 601st deputy brigade commander, Lt. Colonel Edgar L Catu, commander of the Army's 40th IB, and other local officials.

Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan lauded the efforts of the 601st Brigade and the 40IB for creating the IATF-Magiting that centered on collaboration and strengthen the binds of the local chief executives to address pertaining to peace and development and disaster preparedness.

Carreon expressed his gratitude for the cooperation and active response of the local chief executives.

“Let us set aside politics,” Carreon said. “This is the right time to strengthen our ties, for the good of our constituents."

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1055553