ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Apr 13 (PIA) – Governor Hadji Sadikul Sahali has convened the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Wednesday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall amid reports and rumors alleging that Tawi-Tawi is disturbed in its cherished peace and order.
Sahali, who chairs the PPOC, said that his agenda in convening the council was to address the armed conflict between two groups in the Municipality of Sitangkai that has been reportedly escalating.
This prompted the PPOC chairman, in the meeting, to direct the PNP Provincial Director, Sr. Supt. Rodelio Jocson to give an update on the situation in the area.
Jocson confirmed that there has been armed engagement between the two warring factions, however, as of press time, “the groups are in a ceasefire and settlement of the conflict is under negotiation,” he added.
He further said that the peace and order situation in the Province of Tawi-Tawi is manageable and there is no cause for alarm.
In the same manner, Task Force 62 Commander, Navy Captain Renato Yongque also said that Tawi-Tawi in entirety is peaceful, “that is why there is no military movement,” he stressed.
Yongque also cited that the military has made changes in its approach and has adopted the so-called “Internal Peace and Security Plan or the Bayanihan,” composed of teams of selected soldiers to help work for peace in the community.
Meanwhile, Sahali said that the conflict in Sitangkai between the two groups is purely a clan war or of feuding families, which is normally occurring in the province and elsewhere.
He stressed his optimism that such conflict could be addressed soon, just like incidents of the same nature that have already occurred in the past but were given solutions.
“We have peace in Tawi-Tawi, and we will protect that peace,” the governor stressed. (Nash Tahang/RVC/PIA-9 ZBST)
