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Mindanao Peace and Security Summit Held |
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The President through the National Security Council (NSC) invited multisectoral groups in Mindanao, local government officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP), ulamas, priests and even representatives of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), members of the academe and the President's Cabinet who hold positions in the security cluster committee to attend the Mindanao Peace and Security Summit held in Cagayan de Oro City early July.
Comm. Taha M. Basman was one of the facilitators of the summit which aimed to encourage the marginal groups, including the Muslims, to raise their concerns about the new law on Human Security. Other facilitators include Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Prof. Rudy Rodil andExec. Dir. Linda Ola-Casan, among others.
The peace summit was convened as government sees the need for a collaborative effort and inter-governmental cooperation with the private sector as a fundamental requisite for a successful campaign against the threat of terrorism.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has defined the government's target in the next three years, which is for the AFP to defeat insurgency and other rebel groups, modernize the military, advance the protection of human rights, a sustainable peace in Mindanao and expand alliances for regional and global security.
In relation to this, the President also signed Executive Order 546, stating the important role of local officials in preparing internal security plans in their localities and making the PNP a co-equal partner in the effort to combat insurgencies and terrorism in the country's peace initiatives and development.
Participants with multisectoral representation were divided into 5 workshop groups The five groups include: a) upholding human rights and the rule of law; b) promoting the culture of peace, c) denying support to terrorists, d) strengthening the counter-terrorism drive, and e) enhancing crisis management mechanisms and institutions.
A draft agreement was then presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she graced the culmination of the two-day Summit. Members of her cabinet, other high government officials, leaders of civil society and other NGOs were present during the occasion. |
