By Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY – Members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-9 have converged here Friday, June 27, for a reorganizational meeting following the appointment of Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto Y. Uy by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas as the new council chair.
More than 30 members comprising the regional heads and representatives of the different national government agencies (NGAs), city and provincial governments, Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP) and private sector representatives (PSR) turned up in the said meeting which tackled the region’s peace and order situation, and anti-insurgency/terrorism campaign among others.
DILG-9 Regional Director Paisal Abutazil informed the group that the last time the RPOC was convened was two years ago. He underscored the importance of strengthening the RPOC, as peace and order is of “paramount priority.”
“When peace is disturbed, [it] can affect everyone regardless of creed, tribe, religion, social and economic status,” stressed Abutazil.
“RPOC has to ensure that the safety of the communities is never compromised,” he urged.
For his part, RPOC-9 chair, Governor Uy, acknowledged the great task of the council in the pursuit of peace and order. He called on all stakeholders “to work hand in hand to achieve and sustain a lasting peace in the area.”
Military and police authorities have identified the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CNN) and Moro rebels as threats to peace and order in the region.
Nevertheless, Governor Uy said: “We can achieve peace if we have the fear of God.”