MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vice-chairman Ghazali Jaafar welcomed the proposed sports initiatives of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in their community, the PSC chairman said.
PSC chairman William Ramirez said that he, his senior executive assistant Ronnel Abrenica and driver Jong-Jong Banluta had lunch with Jaafar at the latter's Cotabato residence last Saturday, April 15.
"We met with vice-chairman Jaafar together with his core, trying to set up a permanent sports program for MILF youth. We plan to send coaches and other mentoring team if they are prepared, possibly have them join the BatangPinoy while the adults in the MILF armed forces may be trained for specific sports in the PNG (Philippine National Games). He was very positive," the PSC chief said, adding that they went there without fear, glad that Jaafar, his son Butch and their group consisting of lawyers, doctors, councilor and mayor, welcomed them with open arms.
The PSC, according to him, plans to designate a sports coordinator inside the MILF camp as he considers Jaafar's son for the job once the MILF Central Committee approves of their proposal.
Ramirez also said, "The purpose of this is to tell the whole country that the mantra of President Rodrigo Duterte to make sports accessible to all people of the country including the MILF and MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front)... the downtrodden, making use of sports as vehicle for peace and unity."
Once the MILF Central Committee approves of PSC's proposal, Ramirez said a sports consultative meeting will be held in the MILF community as well as conduct the Sports for Peace program, train the trainers and children, among others.
"While the gold medal remains elusive for the country (in the Olympics), this PSC-MILF collaboration is a gold mine as it is in line with the mantra of President Duterte to make sports accessible to both children and adults, maintain quality of life and inspiring them to play and to go to school," Ramirez added.