By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - The Zamboanga del Norte Peace and Order Council (ZNPPOC) has recently convened at the Top Plaza Pension here to update its members on the peace and order situation of the province.
Police and military top brass in the province together with provincial chiefs of the different line agencies, city and municipal mayors, board members, non-government organizations (NGOs), religious leaders and people’s organizations (POs) participated in the said meeting, which was presided by vice Governor Senen O. Angeles.
Police Deputy Provincial Director Jerome D. Afuyog and 101s t Ingantry Brigade Commanding Officer, Col. Apolinario Alobba gave updates on the current peace and order condition of the province, including their initiatives in maintaining peace and order in the province.
“Except for the recent killings in Dipolog which are now being investigated by police operatives, the entire province is generally peaceful,” Afuyog reported. However, the PNP is closely monitoring the rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front(MNL) and lawless elements in the province.
Afuyog added that the PNP has already considered the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) as non-hostile elements on account of the ongoing peace negotiation with the government.
Col. Alobba, on the other hand, highlighted the initiative of the military in the province in winning peace. He pointed out the involvement of the military in various activities spearheaded by the different local government units (LGUs), and other national line agencies based in the province that address the needs of the people.
He cited the important role of the local chief executives (LCEs) and the military in addressing the needs of the people concerning livelihood, rehabilitation and construction of farm–to-market roads and various facilities, training for the farmers to increase production and many others.
The area of coverage of the 101st Infantry Brigade includes the whole province of Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and five municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur.
On the other hand, Atty. Armi Beatriz Bayot, from the Office of the Solicitor-General and member of the legal team of the GPH-MILF peace panel, updated the PPOC members of the ongoing peace negotiation between the government and the MILF.
Despite some apprehensions aired by some of the members of the council on the Comprehensive Agreement (CAB) on the Bangsamoro, Atty. Bayot is confident that the CAB will bring a genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao.