OPAPP hopes to end Peace Month with Marawi siege ‘victory’
PIKIT, North Cotabato – A farmer was shot dead allegedly over a personal grudge by a still unidentified gunman here at around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday. The victim was identified as Mustapha Talib who was on his way to the public market with his son and nephew when the suspect shot him in the head and stomach. According to the police, the victim was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. (Lady Nicor)
BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur – If the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will have its way, the best approach to mark the culmination of the National Peace Consciousness Month this September is for government troops to finally end the four-months long siege in Marawi City.
Such would be a “good coincidence,” Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza told the Manila Bulletin yesterday.
“Well that’s only by coincidence, hindi talaga pinlano ‘yan na (we did not plan it) to mark the end of the Peace Month eh matatapos din ‘yung sa Marawi (the Marawi siege will also end). But you know, how to end the Marawi siege depends really on the situation there and the capability of our government to beat the bad guys there,” Dureza said.
“But it is a very good coincidence that talagang ma-clear ‘yan (for Marawi City to finally be cleared) on September 30 which is also the culmination of our Peace Month, we can also use that as a very strong signal,” he added.
Prior to this, Defense Secretary
ILIGAN CITY – A Lanao del Norte lawmaker has called for support from his colleagues in the Lower House as Congress prepares to deliberate on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Lanao del Norte 1st District Representative Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said support for the BBL should be given only if it conforms with the Constitution.
“As early as now, I can confidently say that I will vote “yes” to the proposed BBL. But, as my oath of office demands, it must conform to the Constitution of our Republic. I will support any move in the House of Representatives to ensure that the BBL adheres to our Constitution,” Dimaporo said.
“The era of the Bangsamoro is close at hand. The opportune timeline would be for Malacañang to sign it before the May 2018 barangay elections. That’s seven months in total for the government to deliver. The house has calendared one month adjournment of Congress between October and November, and one month adjournment of Congress between December and January. That leaves only five official
DAVAO CITY – Hundreds of land reform beneficiaries have been protesting in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office in Tagum City since Tuesday to call for the immediate resolution of their pending installation orders.
The agrarian reform beneficiaries Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday that the Marawi siege, which started on May 23, could possibly be finished by the military within three days, or on September 30, Saturday. Lorenzana said that he made this assessment based on ground reports.
Although it is hard to predict whether the Marawi siege could finally be over in a few days, Dureza remained working months left to approve the BBL in the House and the Senate,” Dimaporo said.
Dimaporo said if the national government is serious about achieving peace in Mindanao, it should give Mindanaoans more than just the Bangsamoro. “We will never have peace so long as poverty remains persistent. The national government should strengthen development programs, such as the Pamana Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), which are one of the tools to curb poverty in conflict-affected areas,” he said.
“We keep fighting with one another over control of a territory, but as far as the province of Lanao del Norte is concerned, the prevalence of poverty is our true enemy. What we need from the national government is development. The national government can sign as many peace agreements as it wants, but so long as poverty thrives in our region, there will always be social unrest. We cannot have sustainable peace without accelerated economic development. This is the position of peace-loving Filipino citizens from Lanao del Norte,” Dimaporo said. are members of an organization called Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries One Movement from Panabo City, Kapalong town and Tagum City.
They urged the Provincial Agrarian Reform in Davao del Norte to expedite the long-standing petitions and agrarian cases that were submitted and lobbied in the department.
At least four agrarian reform beneficiaries optimistic of the troops’ capability to deliver.
Dureza also noted that as soon as the Marawi siege is over, a lot of things are needed to be done for the rehabilitation of the war-torn city.
“You know, we don’t use the word end, eh. Everything is always a beginning. When you say end of Marawi siege, it’s the beginning of a lot of things to be associations are claiming the areas covered by Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO).
Billy Cabintoy, secretary-general of AOM said ARBs in Tagum City are claiming at least 821 hectares of land.
The ARB organizations who are claiming the areas in TADECO are WADECOR Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc. (WEARBAI) done like fixing broken relationships, rebuilding the physically damaged structures, bringing back the evacuees who suffered to reconstruct their lives, marami eh (there’s a lot),” Dureza explained.
“Eh ito namang sa OPAPP, September being the peace month, it’s just really to highlight the celebration of peace but actually there is no end. In fact, the rehabilitation stage would definitely be a one-nation approach eh, like for instance sa Bangon Marawi, different agencies ‘yan so kami may participation ‘din to help the city and the people recover,” he said.
Dureza also hinted of the possible trip of the Peace Buzz to a safe zone in Marawi City for a brief program. “Let’s go,” he said. He is expected to attend the second of the two-day stop of the Peace Buzz in Davao City today, September 29.
The OPAPP launched the “Peace Buzz: Byaheng Kapayapaan” nationwide caravan in Baguio City last September 21 to promote a culture of peace in observance of the National Peace Consciousness Month. The theme of the Peace Month this year is “Puso para sa Kapayapaan, Magkaisa para sa Bayan.” with 376 hectares, Checkered Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (CHARBEMCO) with 282 hectares, PAHECO Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc. (PEARBAI) with 163 hectares, and Linda District Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc. (LINDEARBAI).