COTABATO CITY - Hundreds of selected members of Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) representing different units of BIAF undergo a 5-day orientation training on GPH-MILF Joint Normalization Committee Program at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao from November 5-9, 2018.
The training is in preparation for a more advance training at the PNP Camp Salipada K. Pendatun, Parang, Maguindanao that will last for 35 days.
BIAF-MILF Commander Sema Bayao in his welcome remarks recalled the bloodiest struggle of the Moro people during the time of late President Ferdinand Marcos that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives specially during the Martial Law period.
“In 1973, 1974, and 1975 heavy fighting erupted in the Bangsamoro homeland. In 1976 there was a ceasefire but the truce broke down, and in 1978 there was no more ceasefire,” Bayao lamented.
Bayao said, 13 of his men were martyred during the war. However, Bayao said that despite of these catastrophes, the Moro people are now gradually attaining the price of their struggle through the implementation of agreements between the government and the MILF.
Among these agreements was the signing of Term of Reference on Annex on Normalization in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 25, 20014 which stipulated that during the normalization process “communities can achieve their desired quality of life which includes sustainable livelihood and political participation within a peaceful deliberative society.”
Part of the signed agreement are the establishment of Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC), as well as the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST).
JPST is composed of MILF-BIAF, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police that will jointly maintain, protect and secure peace and order and stability of the areas mutually identified by the government and MILF.
Because of these agreements, Bayao asked his fellow Mujahideen to become righteous at all times. “Magpakabuti kayo sa ating kaaway lalo na ngayon dahil partners na natin sila sa kapayapaan,” he said.
A member of Joint Peace and Security Committee Isah Bato delivered an Islamic Wisdom before the trainees.
“We have to show that we are good people because we are Mujahideen, with discipline and always fearful of Allah in whatever we do,” Bato stressed.
He reminded the BIAF-MILF JPST members not to skip the 5times daily prayers.
The BIAF-MILF Internal Training Director Kashmeer Mohammad presented the Internal Training Team in Camp Darapanan who handled the trainees namely: Said Saidali, the Assistant Director, Tunggal Benito, Hadji Rasul Akmad, Daud Tuansi, Hasan Abdulrakman, Abdulrahman Kareem, and Teng Alba.
Mohammad said that the JNC and JPST were activated in August in Pasig City.
“We have our operational manual for JPST approved by JPSC of the government and MILF, also by the JNC.” Mohammad said.
The GPH and MILF identified station sites, 11 sites identified and verified by JPSC and approved by the joint JNC. A JPST barracks established in 11 sites. He said that they have done with training curriculum and ready to use at the PNP Camp General Salipada K. Pendatun at Parang, Maguindanao.
Mohammad said that the composition of JPST are 15 BIAF, 8 PNP and 7 AFP. In every station, 30 of them are assigned.
He said that the11 sites are located in Rajamuda, Pikit in North Coatabato; Ganasi, North Upi; Gadungan, Talitay; Kitango, Datu Salibo; Libutan, Mamasapano; Bato-Bato, Kolumbio; Sasa, Camp Abubakar; and the tree teams for the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) Operation Center which serves as the JPSC; other areas are Munai, Lanao del Norte, Balindong in Lanao del Sur; Datu Tumanggong, Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay; and Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
The first batch of JPST training in Parang, Maguindanao will start in November 11 and the actual exercises is November 12 with the duration of 35 days training.
“There are 200 JPST sites and 3000 forces from AFP and PNP and another 3000 from BIAF-MILF members,” Mohammad added.
Von Alhaq, JPSC MILF Co-Chairman reminded the trainees of ‘discipline’. Alhaq said no matter how intelligent an individual is, and how educated he is, but if he has no discipline he will fail.
“Kahit gaano ka kagaling, kahit gaano kataas na pinag aralan…in all aspect kung wala kang disiplina failure ka pa rin,” he said.
Alhaq admitted that the BIAF-MILF composition comes from different units which he believes, maybe a challenge for the team because of diverse experience and background.
“Discipline starts at home, family, in school, in an organization which is the MILF, meaning you are now carrying the heavy burden,” he stressed.
Alhag said the secret of success for this training is willingness, interest and above all, discipline.
“We must observe individual and organizational discipline,” Alhaq emphasized.
“Our objectives are for everybody, you are the enforcer to implement the policy; the moment na walang disiplina ang enforcers ay babalik sa amin yun. The moment na very successful ang programa and you have the good performance it will return back to our organization, MILF”, he said.
Alhaq said that their team should forget first the unit where they belong, they must always think that they are in one banner of MILF during the training.
“Our aim here is to serve the full interest of the public and the Bangsamoro people, and the Filipino people,” he underscored.
The JNC MILF Co-Chairman Eduard U. Guerra congratulated the JPST trainees because they are first batch, he believes that they are the best, with all the discipline.
“Malaki ang tiwala sa inyo ng BIAF-MILF kasi nakasalalay sa inyo ang 2nd Batch, we have no doubt you can do that,” he said.
Front Commander of Central Mindanao Front Gordon Sayfulah said he will extend his congratulatory message if this JPST first batch will passed in the training.
“I will congratulate you if you passed,” he said.
Sayfulah said the activity is very unique because it has never been done by any revolutionary organization around the world to have the joint peace and security activity for the stability of Moro communities wherein the enemy before will become partners for peace.
Jun Mantawil, secretariat member of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel in his message clarified to the trainees that the MILF is on the right track because of the guidelines implanted by the late Ameerul Mujahideen Sheik Salamat Hashim in the hearst and minds of Mujahideen the clear vision and mission of Bangsamoro struggle.
“We are happy because we are rightly guided by the MILF leaderships’ vision and mission of the late Chairman woo implanted in our hearts and minds the Islam in our culture that have precisely push us in the peace negotiation,” Mantawil said.
Mantawil shared on the importance of this aspirations that will be carried out by the members of BIAF-MILF JPST to work as a team.
He differentiates the DDR or the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration that he said is unilateral in nature which is only favorable to the side of government; “this decommissioning is bilateral”, said Mantawil.
The only region who observe the decommissioning process is the Northern Ireland which is part of the model of BIAF decommissioning process.
“The purpose of decommissioning is to make the combatants and the community to return into normal life and develop the community,” he pointed out.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1589/biaf-milf-joint-peace-and-security-teams-ready-to-embark-on-advance-training
