/PNA
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Military and local officials belonging to Maguindanao province’s second congressional district gathered in Shariff Aguak town on Wednesday to discuss peace and security updates in the area.
Initiated by the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, topics discussed during the gathering include the government’s ongoing fight against violent extremism, the campaign against illegal drugs, and election-related issues.
“The nefarious activities of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and family feuds still tops the problems besetting the second district of the province,” said Maj. Arvin John Encinas, the Army’s 6th ID spokesperson.
The BIFF mainly operates in the province’s second district, where the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh serves as the terror group’s jump-off and extraction point.
“We need the continued cooperation of the mayors to neutralize the BIFF and contain other problems,” Encinas said, adding that a recently inked joint security plan by the military and police in the province has been introduced to the mayors.
Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6ID commander, facilitated the forum that tackled the peace and development programs of the Duterte administration.
“We should stand as one in countering the current threats faced by the province, and we can only do it if we work together,” Sobejana told local officials.
Among those who joined the forum are the chief executives of the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Talitay, Talayan, Guindulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibo, Datu Piang, Mamasapano, Rajah Buayan, Sultan Sa Barongis, Datu Unsay, Datu Hoffer and Ampatuan.
Other law enforcement units that presented updates to the forum participants were the Maguindanao police office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Encinas said a similar forum would soon be initiated for the first district of the province
