MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 19 (PIA) --- The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) gathered local chief executives, civil society organizations, and security partners in the province in a summit Tuesday, August 18, to tackle ways to improve the political climate for peace.
Atty. Benedicto R. Bacani, IAG executive director, said the summit was conducted under the Pro PolitiCS for Peace project, a three-year project that seeks to help shape a stable political environment in support of the broader Mindanao peace process.
This not only refers to the vertical peace process between the government and the Moros Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but also peace processes at the community level like rido settlement, he said.
According to Bacani, the Pro PolitiCS for Peace project aims to enhance the participation of political leaders and local government units in dialogues where they can reflect and articulate their informed perspectives on issues of autonomy, peace and security.
During the summit, the participants broke into groups and discussed local security concerns and issues and ways to improve peace and security.
Other highlights of the summit were learning sessions on current security threats given by the Philippines Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research; national situationer on anti-illegal drug enforcement by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; national security and policing program by the Philippine National Police; and local security and normalization by the Joint Normalization Committee.
Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Mamintal A. Adiong Jr., underscored the importance of the summit.
We welcome the assistance provided by the Australian Aid and the IAG in hosting this summit. We have to focus on security issues affecting us and how we can empower our communities to protect their families and friends and neighbors from these threats because we cannot allow cycle of fear and violence to tear at the fabric of our communities, Adiong said.
He also emphasized the need to confront the warped ideologies espoused by some groups especially their attempt to use Islam to justify their violence. “And that hurts all of us, especially Muslims, who are the ones most likely to be their targets nowadays. All of us regardless of our faith have a responsibility to reject it,” the Governor said.
Governor Adiong also announced that he received a notice from the Independent Decommissioning Body citing that the Provincial Capitol may possibly be the assembly and processing area for the decommissioning of the MILF-BIAF combatants and their weapons.
One component of the Pro PolitiCS for Peace project is the interfacing of LGUs and political leaders with the peace process structures and mechanisms. (APB/PIA-10)
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