Provincial peace council assures safety of Misamis Oriental

THE recent clashes between the military and New People’s Army rebels in Claveria town in Misamis Oriental prompted the peace and order council of the province to convene on Thursday.

Vice Governor Norris Babiera, chair of the provincial peace and order council, said that despite the encounter, which resulted to the death of a member of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu), the police and military are in control of the situation.

“We assure the people of Misamis Oriental especially in Claveria that the situation is under the control of our law enforcers,” Babiera said.

Lieutenant Colonel Rolly Dumawa of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) this city, in a dialogue on local peace and security issues, said with the signing of the Framework of Agreement of the Bangsamoro (FAB) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the government is bent to pursue talks with the NPA and other groups to attain peace in Mindanao.

Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI) called the dialogue on local peace and security to bring together the civil society groups and different government agencies including the interior and local government office of Misamis Oriental.

The dialogue was an offshoot of the “Dialogue Space” aimed at pushing for genuine peace and development especially in Mindanao.

Sabrina Garcia, program officer of civilian-led Security Sector Partnership Initiative of BMFI, said the active engagement of the civil society organizations and other security stakeholders in the region will serve as an oversight body in the implementation of AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan or IPSP Bayanihan and other related peace and security concerns.

The military said the IPSP-Bayanihan is the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ peace and development strategy in promoting lasting peace in the country.