Basilan peace summit held in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Officials and members of government and non-government organizations from Basilan province, including those from the religious sector, attended a forum, Saturday, on peace and security issues, as well as the Bangsamoro Organic Law which is due for ratification on January 21 next year.

Armed Forces of the Philippines - Western Mindanao Command (AFPWesMinCom) Spokesman Army Lt. Col. Gerry M Besana said the gathering was held at the Woodland Resort, Barangay Zambowood here.

Besana said the multi-sectoral summit for peace was spearheaded by the Mahadjamah Development Initiative, Inc. (MDI), a civil society organization composed of individuals from Basilan whose common advocacy was to achieve the peace and development of their province

Besana said some of the participants of the summit came from the academe, youth, elders, religious, business, women, and some field commanders and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) based in Basilan.

Together, they exchanged views and opinions during a workshop to identify the root causes of the past and present problems that have hampered the growth and human development in their province and how to deal with the challenges to attain the peace they have longed for. (Nonoy E. Lacson)