Joint reg’l, prov’l peace councils meet to end hostilities in Sumisip

By Rene V. Carbayas

Friday 3rd of August 2012

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 3 (PIA) -- The joint regional and provincial peace and order council discussed Tuesday measures to end hostilities in Sumisip, Basilan.

Mujiv Hataman, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor, underscored the need for government agencies and local government units to address issues affecting communities south of Basilan with a pro-active stance.

The governor asked the Provincial Agrarian Reform Office and the Cooperative Development Authority to explain the situation of Tumajubong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Integrated Development Cooperative (Tarbidci) that may have caused the hostilities.

He also asked concerned agencies for specific interventions made to address the problem of the cooperative.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Suwaib Ismael said Tarbidci faced problems on management and infightings among some beneficiaries, which became violent for some individuals.

Three separate incidents of harassments have been reported since last year, where rubber plantation workers fall victims of ambush and strafing on their way to gather rubber produce.

The latest incident occurred last July 11 that left seven dead and several others wounded.

Pursuit operations against perpetrators resulted to an armed confrontation on July 16 against some 150 lawless elements that killed 11 government soldiers, wounded 18 others and displaced over a thousand families in Sumisip, Basilan.

Police Senior Supt. Alex Lineses, outgoing Basilan Police chief, said appropriate charges were filed to suspects the police did not name.

He added that the police provided security to social welfare personnel, delivering relief goods to affected areas.

Anwary Akalon of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said 2,000 family packs of relief goods were prepared. It served 1,961 displaced families.

He said P603,000 worth of assistance to internally displaced persons was given.

Meanwhile, Tipo-Tipo Mayor Ingatun Istarul asked the military to re-establish abandoned detachments along major roads in Tipo-Tipo and Sumisip, which he believed will help reduce atrocities.

Istarul fears that as an adjacent town of Sumisip, Tipo-Tipo is highly vulnerable and spillover violence may strike anytime if security is not tightened.

Outgoing Joint Task Force Basilan Commander Col. Arthur Ang of the 104th Philippine Army Brigade reiterated the call to foster the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ in Basilan, urging local government units, civilians, government agencies, the military and the police to strengthen cooperation and collaboration to attain peace and development.

Ang emphasized the importance of completing the ongoing Basilan Circumferential Road (BCR) concreting for the full development of the province.

He said the arrival of the 64th Infantry Battalion in Basilan is not intended for military operations as alleged by some sectors but were here solely to protect and provide security to ensure completion of the BCR. (JPA/RVC/PIA9-ZBST)