ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) has recently awarded bronze
cross medal to outgoing personnel of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) whose
one year tour of duty ended IN March 2013.
In a press release, Col Rodrigo T
Gregorio, WESMINCOM Public Information Officer (PIO) said that the awards were
given last Feb. 25 in recognition of IMT personnel’s acts of heroism during
their stint at the command from March 3, 2012 to March 23, 2013.
The awardees were composed of five
Malaysians, three Indonesians, and two Brunei nationals. They were recognized
for their efforts in monitoring the ceasefire agreement which led to the
signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) between the
Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF).
Col. Gregorio said that Col. Halim
of the Royal Malaysian Army and his team monitored and ensured the
establishment of the plan for the development and humanitarian support that
would complement the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
“They ensured the implementation of
guidelines of the ceasefire agreement and the Joint PGH-MILF Law Enforcement
Operations against kidnappers and lawless elements in areas with MILF
presence. With the collaborative efforts of Ad Hoc joint Action Group (AHJAG),
Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), and WESMINCOM,
they successfully facilitated the activities for the Civilian Protection
Component (CPC) in MILF communities,” Gregorio said.
He lauded the awardees for they
disregarded personal safety by actively pacifying and preventing armed
confrontations between warring clans in Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and
Zamboanga del Norte.
He said that together with (AHJAG),
the awardees conducted numerous advocacies and focused discussions in the
headquarters of the division and brigades on the ceasefire mechanisms and
agreements.
According to Gregorio, the awardees
have actively assisted GPH and MILF panels, Local Government Units (LGUs), and
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during the conduct of 13 advocacies on the
FAB. These efforts greatly helped the local populace in deeply understanding
the agreement in localities not covered by the proposed Bangsamoro and in
covered provinces without MILF. They restlessly conducted limited civil
military cooperation projects with the local and engaged the AFP, PNP, LGUs, NGOs
and the MILF in the area of monitoring (AOM).
“During their stint, they
conducted peace advocacies to 30 interested groups, met all provincial
governors, municipal mayors, some barangay captains, numerous NGOs, PNP and AFP
commanders, and most MILF commanders,” he reported.
He also noted that last July 2012,
the awardees had actively assisted GPH-MILF panels, LGUs, and AHJAG in bringing
cooperation and establishing trust between 102nd Infantry Brigade and the MILF
commanders in Tumangong, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province to prevent the operations
of lawless elements.
“With GPH-MILF and AHJAG, they
spearheaded confidence-building activities and measures between AFP and MILF in
Basilan Province by setting up peaceful meetings between AFP Commanders and MILF
Commanders in the area in January 2013 in Magkawa, Al Barka, Basilan,” he
stressed.
Gregorio said that the event started
bridging network, close relationship, law and order, and facilitates peaceful
resolution of conflicts between leadership and members of both camps.
Together with AHJAG, LGU and 104th
Infantry Brigade, the awardees were active in the settlement of conflict
between Ustaz Amir Mingkong of MILF and the Bakkal family on Jan. 21, 2013 in
Baag, Sumisip, Basilan.
The command is expecting a new batch of IMT soon to replace
the outgoing personnel. (PIA9)