By BEVERLY C. PAOYON
MAITUM, Sarangani (October 18, 2012) – With shared intentions of promoting peace, the International Monitoring Team (IMT), 73rd Infantry Battalion, provincial and local government of Maitum, and members of the civilian protection component and non-violent peace force on Tuesday (October 16) released seven doves in barangay Ticulab to epitomize their advocacy following Monday’s signing of the framework peace agreement in Malacanang.
Dove signified peace, while seven represented the 7th batch of the Malaysian-led IMT assigned in Mindanao since 2004.
It was in barangay Ticulab that civilians were held hostage in 2005 by heavily armed men, where 73rd Infantry Battalion Lt. Col. Adolfo Espuelas said children still suffered from the “stigma of that incident.”
After years of negotiating peace between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government panel, according to the IMT, “sincerity” was evidently seen in both parties to eventually “end the tension and conflict in Mindanao.”
That“transparency” thru the signing as the IMT added, was a manifestation of the peace process.
The IMT is an international group that monitors “the ceasefire, civilian protection component, rehabilitation and development, and socio-economic agreements between the government and the MILF.”
Describing the framework signing as the groundwork of finally attaining peace in Mindanao, the IMT vowed to continue providing the requirements in ensuring that their main objective of bringing peace in this part of the country would be sustained.
In SOCSARGEN Area, according to the IMT Team Site 4 covering the area, the place so far “has been very peaceful, very stable and very calm. Though there are some conflicts here and there by the lawless elements but here, it has been contained.”
Board Member Elmer de Peralta said the framework agreement is a “milestone again in the Philippines because we need that law to sustain our government program in attaining an everlasting peace here in Mindanao.”
For her part, Mayor Lucille Perrett said “ang signing mao ang sinugdan nga makit-an nato ang light sa tunnel. Kana, sunod-sunod na na para mulambo ang atong kinabuhi dinhi sa Mindanao.”
Anchored on the theme, “Together We Make It Happen,” the civilian military cooperation program on Tuesday came out to be a convergence effort among the government agencies, IMT, military and the community where Espuelas pointed out the importance of collaboration and of creating a community that thwarts conflict.
“We are not trying to promote discrimination,” he said and instead urged the community to“live harmoniously with each other” while crafting for a long-term and peaceful solution.
Dental and medical mission with mural painting, and other activities for children were also conducted. For more news and updates, please visit the <a href= http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/> Province of Sarangani </a>. (Beverly C. Paoyon/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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