New group emerges to fight VE, illegal drugs

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – Leaders in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) formed here on
Friday a new group to help President Duterte protect the island from the claws
of terrorism and violent extremism that have been plaguing Mindanao.

The group,
composed of local government executives, civil society groups and religious
sectors, moved to form the alliance, dubbed as Alliance for Genuine Unity in Mindanao
(AGUM), following the deadly bombing in Lamitan City that left 11 people dead,
including the alleged bomber on July 31.

There are
threats in our communities and it needs patriotism on our part, we should work
together in securing our communities against violent extremism, Mangudadatu
told local officials during the organization meeting here in partnership with
the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and Department
of National Defense.Mangudadatu
stressed the new group is not political and will never be for political
purposes. This group shows our
commitment, as Mindanaons, to President Duterte’s desire to free Mindanao from
wrong ideology and illegal drugs, Mangudadatu, who was elected to head the
AGUM, said.

Mangudadatu survived
several car bomb attacks since he was elected as governor of Maguindanao. These attempts on his life with the use of weapons
of mass destructions led him to advocate against violent extremism and
terrorism, not only in Maguindanao but across the region.

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Gov. Rashidin Matba agreed to lead the group of local officials, civic leaders,
women and youth to help make the island of Mindanao peaceful as President
Duterte wished it to be.

Matba stressed
his province is one of the most peaceful in the Mindanao and he will do all he
can to prevent saboteurs from destroying is province.

I will not
allow that to happen, not during my term as governor, he said in Filipino,
adding education is still the best weapon to counter a wrong ideology.

The group,
Matba said, will put up a Children Reading Center in Simunol island where Islam
first landed several centuries ago.

A Women Peace
Center will rise in Pangluma Sugala, another island town.

We believed
mothers have strong influence on their children, they are the first teachers of
their kids what faith to follow and to avoid wrong ideology, Mangudadatu said,
addressing women.

Matba said he
was glad AGUM has huge number of supporters here.

Let’s bring
back the spirit of volunteerism, humanitarian services that we need to attain
peace and development in our island, a youth leader said in a mixed of Filipino
and English.

As a youth in
our country, here in Mindanao, I will use my power and my voice to influence
the other youth sector, to be engaged in peace building in our community, said
Jioshiai Buenavista, a female youth representative. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)