ARMM helps ex-rebels return to normal life
BASILAN — The Abu Sayyaf in this island province only has three commanders now, all hesitant to surrender the way more than 200 followers did in recent months due to criminal cases they face in courts.
The followers of the three Abu Sayyaf leaders — Radzmil, Abdullah and Furudji — surrendered through the joint efforts of Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy of the 104th Brigade and the Regional Peace and Order Council-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Galvez was commander of the Western Mindanao Command, which has jurisdiction over military units in the autonomous region, before President Rodrigo Duterte designated him AFP chief.
More than a hundred of the former Abu Sayyaf militants not wanted for any criminal offense appeared at the headquarters of the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Barangay Cabunbata in Isabela City in Basilan on April 17 to grace the joint launching by the ARMM government of the Program Against Violent Extremism, or PAVE.
The PAVE is supported by Galvez and Uy and the provincial government of Basilan and all of its constituent-municipal local government units in the province.
Hataman said yesterday he is optimistic Galvez can help the ARMM get the support of the Department of Justice in working out the speedy litigation of pending cases against Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf militants for them to have a chance to start life anew as peaceful Filipino citizens.
"In PAVE, we don't give special treatment to Abu Sayyaf members who are being prosecuted for criminal offenses. It is always emphasized to those whose surrender are being secured by local officials and community elders that if there are cases against them, only the court has authority to either convict them, or exonerate them. They should have their day in court," Hataman said.
The PAVE is being complemented by the 104th Brigade and its component-units, the 74th, the 64th and the 18th Infantry Battalions and the 4th Special Forces Battalion with periodic humanitarian missions benefiting marginalized communities.
In Basilan's Sumisip town, which is under the 64th IB, soldiers and municipal elected officials are cooperating in domestic socio-economic and educational programs meant to prove to Abu Sayyaf members and supporters the ARMM government's sincerity and readiness to reintegrate them into mainstream society if they decide to surrender and pledge to reform for good. —