PNP chief asks Muslim royals to play greater role in fight vs drugs, terrorism

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa implored Mindanao sultans and datus to play a greater role in the government’s fight against drugs and terrorism.

Speaking before Mindanao royalty and leaders of indigenous peoples (IPs) at the close of the three-day First Mindanaw Sultanate Summit on Peace and Security here last Saturday, Dela Rosa lauded Mindanao sultans and datus for not being involved in drugs and urged them to replace political leaders who are into illegal drugs.

"I have yet to hear or see any from you involved in drugs, wala akong narinig o alam, seguro... Sa mga political leaders marami na (I did not hear or know, maybe…among the political leaders there are many)," Dela Rosa said.

He said Muslim traditional leaders have a greater role to play in the government's fight against illegal drugs and terrorism, citing information that some fundamentalist Muslim elders were teaching young Muslims to be extremists.

He advised them to focus their peace campaign on the Muslim youth, who, he said, were vulnerable to extremism.

The police chief also apprised Muslim sultanates' traditional leaders, that include royal sultans, datus and bais, that the PNP had just now commenced with Tokhang Part 2, and gave the assurance that its ranks were already rid of rogue policemen after the PNP’s internal cleansing.

The summit was aimed at engaging Muslim traditional leaders from various royal houses and sultanates in countering extremism and forging final peace in Mindanao.

It was organized by the Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Sultanate of Magindanaw.

The Sultanate of Maguindanaw is under Mandanaue Datussalam, the biggest confederation of Tarsilla-based sultanates whose present-day sultans are bloodline descendants of Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan, who introduced Islam in Mindanao in the later part of 16th century.

The Sultanate of Magindanaw is currently headed by its 25th Sultan Abdulaziz Salem Mastura Kudarat V.