By BEVERLY C. PAOYON
ALABEL, Sarangani (October 1, 2013) – Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon convened Monday (September 30) a joint meeting between the Local Monitoring Team (LMT) and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to craft a GPH-MILF (Government of the Republic of the Philippines – Moro Islamic Liberation Front) ceasefire mechanism in his province.
Solon stressed the mechanism would define both parties’ roles in safeguarding the ceasefire and the peace process. Structures are existing, he said, but a clearly defined system on the ground has yet to be crafted.
While both the GPH and MILF are cautious on the peace process, Solon said, the mechanism of coordination referred to as Manual of Instruction (MOI) should be agreed upon and adopted by both local peace panels as implementing guidelines on the security aspect.
The MOI was seen to form part of the government’s partnership with the MILF in the peace agreement. “Let’s be dynamic and utilize existing means,” Solon said.
Also participating in the workshop were representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), IMT of Team Site 4, Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and other peace partners.
The AFP, on the other hand, reported Sarangani is generally peaceful as movements of the MILF have been properly coordinated to the military thru the group’s LMT.
On September 11, Solon led the signing of Manifesto of Commitment among key influential leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front, AFP and PNP that confirmed their unity towards a common fundamental commitment to promote the culture of peace in this part of Mindanao. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
