PR/ PNA NEWS
CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO — Top military officials led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana met with local leaders here Thursday to defuse tension following the recent bombing incident in Cotabato City and assure the city of a peaceful conduct of the upcoming Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite and midterm polls.
Lorenzana said they came here to prevent speculation and “finger-pointing” on the bombing, which claimed two lives and injured scores of others.
“We are here to defuse the tensions and we don’t want to escalate the conflict,” Lorenzana said.
Among those who attended the dialogue were Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Cotabato Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, Maguindanao First District and Cotabato City Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, and Bangsamoro Islamic Forces Chief of Staff Sammy Gambar Al-Mansoor.
Lorenzana said a presentation made during the security briefing led by 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. General Cirilito Sobejana suggests the bombing had the signature of a local terror group.
“Until we get to the bottom of this, we consider this incident a terror attack,” he said, adding that the initial investigation “points to Dawla Islamiyah terror group.”
The defense chief said their intention in coming here was to ensure the people “to have a free and peaceful elections and plebiscites.”
“Rest assured that your military and police are doing their best to ensure that you can vote freely according to your choice,” he said.
Lorenzana also called on the people to weigh the benefits of the BOL.
“Itong BOL na ito, matagal na natin hinihintay. There will be a lot of benefits. Let’s weigh it over para magkaroon naman tayong ng katahimikan (We’ve been waiting for the BOL for a long time. There will be a lot of benefits. Let’s weigh it over so we can have peace),” he said.
Meanwhile, Galvez and Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega asked the leaders to stay calm following the attack.
“We can’t win peace by force, but by persuasive diplomacy and understanding,” Galvez said.
Galvez said the local leaders and the security forces are committed to making sure the upcoming plebiscite and elections “will be peaceful and it will reflect the honest will of the people.”
He noted that the presence of the defense chief here was critical since Lorenzana knows the political landscape and security situation of the area.
Lorenzana is from the town of Parang in Maguindanao and studied at the Notre Dame University.
The plebiscite is scheduled on Jan. 21, 2019 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Cotabato City, and Isabela City for the ratification of the BOL.
For Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, and the areas that filed their petitions to join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) granted by the Comelec, the plebiscite will be on Feb. 6, 2019.
