THE government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has activated a 30-man Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) in the province of Basilan.
The JPST is a peace-keeping force deployed in areas mutually identified by the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF). It is one of the transitional mechanisms established under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The 30 members of the JPST, which was activated Thursday, October 14, comprised of eight policemen, seven soldiers, and 15 MILF members.
Police Brigadier General Eden Ugale, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) director, who attended the activation of the team, said the JPST was deployed in the municipality of Tipo-Tipo.
Ugale said that the JPST is expected to perform a task, which is to track and document private armed groups, and help in the reduction and control of weapons; support the observance of the existing ceasefire agreement to address and prevent hostilities; work on security arrangements for activities and personalities involved in the peace process; and support dispute resolution initiatives on the ground.
“Ang isa sa pinakamahalagang sangkap ng kapayapaan ay ang sama-samang pagkilos at pagtutulungan ng lahat. Ang pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan sa ating komunidad ay responsibilidad nating lahat. Sa pamamagitan ng ating sama-samang pagkilos at pagtutulungan ay tiyak na makakamit natin ang tunay na kapayapaan sa rehiyong Bangsamoro,” Ugale said.
The activation ceremony was attended by officials from the Western Mindanao Command, Philippine National Police Peace Process Development Center, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, representatives of the MILF, Tipo-Tipo municipal government, and Basilan provincial government, as well as other military and police officials.
On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, a similar team was activated and deployed in Datu Tumanggong village, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay. (SunStar Zamboanga)