Mindanao Peace Process

The Department of Agriculture sets its role in the Government Peace Implementing Panel in transforming erstwhile camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into production hub.

Agriculture Undersecretary Zam Ampatuan CESO I said strategies to achieve this goal have been drawn and were discussed in an interagency meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on December 14, 2022.

DAVAO CITY – First under the Marcos Jr administration, members of the national and Bangsamoro governments gathered here Thursday for the 12th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Relations Body of the Bangsamoro Government and National Government where issues and concerns between the two governments were discussed and resolved.

It aims to strengthen collaborative efforts on how to move the Bangsamoro peace process forward as the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) convened, its first under the Marcos administration.

MANILA – Beyond beliefs, culture, and even religion, the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace should be a goal for every Filipino, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said Thursday as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) joined the nation in the observance of the 25th celebration of the event.

“The week-long celebration is a reminder for all Filipinos – regardless of one’s status in life, religion, or culture – should always strive to achieve lasting peace, unity, and harmony,” Estrella said in a statement.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – Tatlong mga miyembro ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters – Karialan Faction ang sumuko sa tropa ng pamahalaan sa Brgy. Zapakan, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao hapon nitong Miyerkules (Nobyembre 16).

Bitbit ang kanilang mga armas ay sumuko sa tropa ng 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion ang tatlong mga BIFF sa tulong na rin ng barangay opisyal sa lugar at ng pamahalaang lokal ng Radjah Buayan.

Kabilang sa mga baril na kanilang isinuko ay ang isang Garand Rifle at dalawang Carbine Rifle.

COTABATO CITY  - Security officials support the efforts of the Bangsamoro government to resolve the nagging security woes in Pikit, Cotabato where 34 people perished in gun attacks in the past 21 months.

No fewer than 10 people have also been killed in clashes between heavily armed groups in Pikit since 2020.

GENERAL CITY - Fifteen members of the New People’s Army, six of them from a group extorting “protection money” from traders, surrendered Wednesday.

They pledged allegiance to the government, before Brig Gen. Jamili Macaraeg of the Police Regional Office-12 and local executives, during a surrender rite held at the PRO-12 headquarters in Barangay Tambler here.

Six of the 15 NPAs confessed to their participation in the collection of monthly “protection money” from traders.

COTABATO CITY --- Thirteen more members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, five of them experts in fabrication of home-made bombs, pledged allegiance to the government Wednesday.

The 13 BIFF terrorists from Midsayap in  Cotabato province and Maguindanao’s Datu Salibo, Datu Unsay and Mamasapano towns yielded through the intercession of local executives and officials of the Army’s 1^st Brigade Combat Team and the 6^th Infantry Division.

COTABATO CITY - Ten more members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters pledged allegiance to the government Friday.

The 10 BIFF members turned in assorted firearms before they renounced their membership with the group in the presence of Army and police officials at the headquarters of the 601^st Infantry Brigade in Barangay Kamasi in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Norte.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The Army’s 6^th Infantry “Kampilan” Division now has 88 new soldiers who will help in peacekeeping mission of the Armed Forces in South-Central Mindanao.

On Friday, 69 male and 19 female soldiers completed their Basic Military Training from the 6th Division Training School in Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguidanao.

Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, 6th ID commander, officiated the oath of office of 88 new Army privates belonging to Class 708-2021 Bagtikan (Bagong Tinakdang Kalasag ng Bayan) class.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has designated one of the deputies of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) to serve as acting chief until such time a new one is selected to head the command.

This came after Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. relinquished his position Tuesday, a day before he turns 56, the mandatory retirement age.

Designated as the acting commander of Westmincom is Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, a marine officer and the command’s deputy commander for external defense operations.