CAMP NAVARRO, Calarian, Zamboanga City: The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) is committed to traveling the road to peace with the Bangsamoro people.
This is a part of the statement of Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. during the courtesy call of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim on Thursday, September 29, in this military camp.
Rosario was joined by Joint Task Force Sulu commander MGen. Ignatius Patrimonio; Joint Task Force Basilan commander BGen. Domingo Gobway; WestMinCom Deputy Commander for External Defense Operations BGen. Arturo Rojas; Tactical Operations Wing Western Mindanao Commander BGen. Dennis Estrella; and Chief of Unified Command Staff Col. Elmer Suderio in welcoming Ebrahim at the Laong Laan Hall.
Rosario said that the peace-inclined groups Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are already part of the government. He emphasized that these groups are the security sector’s partners in finding solutions to the decades-long aggression in Mindanao.
During the conference, Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Operations Col. Jessie Montoya highlighted the efforts of the WestMinCom in support of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. Noteworthy is the participation of the command in the decommissioning phase of the normalization track by providing assistance during the safe and secure transport of firearms and MILF forces.
The command is also actively supporting the establishment of the different Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) stations, including the provision of personnel requirements, training of JPST, and construction of the JPST stations.
Moreover, the command and the AFP support the management of small arms and light weapons which intends to address the proliferation of loose firearms in BARMM. The program was initiated by the Joint Normalization Committee of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
As a member of the National Task Force for the disbandment of Private Armed Groups (NTF-DPAGS) and in support of the PNP, the committee shall support NTF-DPAGS’ campaign to curtail the emergence of private armed groups and the proliferation of loose firearms .
Ebrahim commended Rosario and the entire team WestMinCom for supporting the normalization process in BARMM. “Together, we will surely achieve the desired change that we all want for the Bangsamoro people.”
During his visit to the WesMinCom, Ebrahim was accompanied by Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education; lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government; lawyer Raissa Jajurie of the Ministry of Social Services and Development; Dr. Mohammad Yacob of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform; and Cabinet Secretary Mohd. Asnin Pendatun.