Pagalungan partners w/ GPH, MILF vs. Illegal drugs

CURBING THE VICES --- Mayor Salik P. Mamasabulod  (3rd from left) exchanging views  with 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Assistant Division Commander Col. Earl D. Baliao (left) and Atty. Abdul M. Dataya on how to further strengthen their fight against  illegal drugs at the local level during the joint GPH-MILF advocacy program held last December 18 at the Pagalungan covered court. (Photo by Anne B. Acosta –Mindanao Expose’)

PAGALUNGAN, Maguindanao --- The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, together with this municipal government, have further intensified the campaign against illegal drugs during the joint GPH-MILF advocacy program held last December 18 at the town’s covered court.

Even before former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte assumed his post as the 16^th President of the country, Pagalungan Mayor Salik P. Mamasabulod said his administration has included in the local government unit’s list of advocacy the  drive against illegal drugs.

“We are grateful with the aid and presence of the GPH and MILF in our town as we fight against illegal drugs which destroy the lives of the children who are our country’s emerging leaders,” said Mamasabulod.

Mamasabulod said the GPH-MILF advocacy tandem is a big help for their constituents so they could fully understand, most especially the youths, about the negative effects of illegal drug dependency and addiction.

“Our 12 barangay chairmen from Bagoenged, Buliok, Damalasak, Galakit, Inug-ug, Kalbugan, Kilangan, Kudal, Layog, Linandangan, Poblacion, and Dalgan are scheduled to re-echo within their respective communities all the learnings they have acquired from this campaign for the benefit of their communities,” said the municipal mayor.

Carlos T. Sol, Jr., officer-in-charge of the GPH-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), said the government and the MILF continuously strengthen their campaign against illegal drugs in the MILF communities in Mindanao.

“I encourage these communities to cooperate in the efforts to eliminate drugs and criminalities. Magtulungan tayo na mahinto ang droga at malinis ang ating mga barangay (Let us help each other to stop and clean our barangays out of drugs)," he said.

In a recent statement, the MILF announced it would aid the government in the crackdown on illegal drugs in MILF-covered areas. It has previously signed a memorandum of agreement in Davao City with the Philippine government vowing to cooperate in the fight against illegal drugs under the terms of reference under the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and the CCCH.

It was CCCH Chair Army Brig. Gen. Glenn Macasero who signed the agreement together with Atty. Abdul Dataya who chairs the MILF AHJAG and Butch Malang, who chairs the MILF-CCCH. Under the deal, the MILF will cooperate with government operatives in the anti-illegal drug operations following existing regulations under Republic Act 9165 and all relevant agreements signed between the GPH and the MILF.

Also in a previous statement, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said the MILF will be actively participating in the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs in Mindanao.

“The MILF and the Government of the Philippines sealed an agreement for cooperation and coordination in the effort to reduce illegal drugs in areas where the group has presence,” said Sueno.

The MILF and GPH law enforcement agencies have started the joint anti-illegal drug operations in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Central Mindanao.

Further, the MILF has been conducting series of information drives on the effects of illegal drugs in the MILF-affected areas as part of its demand reduction activities.

“Such information drive is being conducted in coordination with the barangay, municipal, city, or provincial and-drug abuse councils. Now, they are here in Pagalungan town,” Mamasabulod said.

As a result of the effort, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) arrested   at least 13 members of an armed group involved in illegal drugs during operations conducted jointly by the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade and elements of the MILF last October 5 to 11. The target personalities were turned over to the Provincial Police Office of North Cotabato.

Accordingly, they were members of a group led by Samad Masgal, alias Commander Madrox, operating in North Cotabato. Masgal, however, was not among those arrested. The operation was conducted in Barangays Nabalawag, Kapinpilan, and Kadingilan in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

The CCCH set up by the government and MILF peace panels and the AHJAG were tapped to operate in these areas with strong MILF presence. Those arrested and turned over to the police were made in the presence in the presence of Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Col. Manolo M. Samarita, commanding officer of the 602^nd Brigade of the Philippine Army, said the partnership also serves as another building block toward reaching a permanent peace in this part of Mindanao.

“The time has come for us to be united as we fight against illegal drugs. I believe we have a strong partnership in implementing the purest intentions of the President,” said Samarita.

Accordingly, the partnership has resulted into better and peaceful lives for the stakeholders as well as stronger confidence between the GPH and MILF forces.

Also present during the gathering included MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs Von Al Haq and MILF Chief of Staff Sammy Almansour, together with Atty. Abdul M. Dataya and Butch Malang. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)