Cabinet Secretaries/Top military leaders visit Sulu to discuss how to jointly address challenges in the Province

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (March 10, 2017) - In a round-table discussion with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, local chief executives and top security officials lengthily discussed the prospective measures to be taken by the different sectors in order to intensify the fight against the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG), the menace which had prevented the influx of economic development in the entire Province of Sulu, officials said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the meeting was attended by Defense Secretary Lorenzana, together with the AFP Chief of Staff, General Eduardo Año, in response to the call of the security sector for inter-agency collaboration. This seeks to encourage the different sectors, as well as the community, to do their share in combating the said bandit group.

During the meeting, Defense Secretary said President Rodrigo Duterte wants the problem in Sulu to be given a long-term solution and ordered the cabinet secretaries to talk with the local government unit in order to make them affirm that their role is very important in giving solution to the present problem. He also added that military commanders are present to personally listen to the issues that will be raised by the different sectors and to understand their side of the story as well.

“We also want a permanent solution to our problem here in the province, that is why we are all here to talk about possible actions. With us are fourteen mayors who have given their own recommendations after airing their concerns to the government. We believe that military action is not the only solution to the current situation but the delivery of basic goods and services of the government to the people is one of the most potent and effective answers to the problem at hand,” said Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II.

Cpt. Petinglay added that during the two-hour meeting, the head of the local government units and the mayors expressed their support, saying, “We are with you (the military) 100 percent.”

“We will not allow those who are supporting the ASG to live and prosper within our communities. We will have those reported cuddling terrorist investigated and answer their infractions,” added Governor Tan. “Let us work together to cleanse our barangays and towns so that we can bring development in our area.”

Secretary Lorenzana said: “Kidnapping and beheading can definitely be stopped. We are here today to talk to the people of Sulu in order to get their support and their recommendations on how we can solve the problem together.”

Cpt. Petinglay said that following the meeting was the open forum and the multi-stakeholders’ meeting wherein local chief executives and stakeholders within the entire province discussed the programs that are expected to be implemented to help the government solve the problems posed by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Speakers and representatives from the academe, religious sector, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front, health sector and others sectors of society were present during the 2nd meeting that was held at the Capitol building, she said.

Before the open forum, the Provincial Government of Sulu presented a comprehensive information briefing about Sulu Province and the current security situation that is challenging the province. The Governor then informed the body of what took place during the earlier meeting and urged everyone to give their support in order to obtain one voice and one stand against the Abu Sayyaf group.

Also present during the activities were Lieutenant General Glorioso Miranda, Commanding General, Philippine Army; Major General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander, Western Mindanao Command; Brigadier General Francis Carada, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Air Division, Philippine Air Force; Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Commander of the Naval Force Western Mindanao; Retired General Hermogenes Esperon, National Security Adviser; other military commanders; and the municipal mayors in Sulu.

Major General Carlito G Galvez Jr, the Commander of the Western Mindanao Command, who is also advocating that the Local Government Units be effective in order to ensure the delivery of goods and services to the people, said, “We can use the Basilan success story as our template in bringing peace and prosperity in the entire Sulu Province. It is our hope that soon, radicalization will be isolated from the communities and would not be allowed to thrive in the province,” he added.

“If the Local Government Unit is effective, then the delivery of services will be calibrated and the radicals will definitely be defeated. We must all understand that the local government is the driving force that will bring us all together to fight the challenges posed by terrorism and radicalization, surely we will win this war against the Abu Sayyaf and we will be able to allow the people of Sulu to enjoy the peace and prosperity that they deserve,” he averred. “We do not believe that it is only the military that is responsible in combatting violent extremism, it is a joint effort of all sectors of society, led of course by the local government unit,” MGen Galvez said.

Earlier that day, Secretary Lorenzana also visited the headquarters of the Joint Task Force Sulu to personally see the situation of the personnel on the ground and boost their morale and welfare. He was also given an operational update by the JTF Sulu Commander Colonel Cirilito Sobejana.