Sectors step up peace drive in Abra over hot political rivalry

By Dexter A. See and Jack Turqueza

BANGUED, Abra — Military personnel and policemen in this conflict-stricken province have put in place security measures to avert escalation of violence that may arise from intense political rivalry in time for the May 2010 local and national elections.

This, as civil and Church leaders gathered here last week for a one-day summit to find ways of restoring the peace that has long eluded residents of this troubled province.

Aside from the increased deployment of military and police personnel in strategic places, the Task Force Abra, an elite peacekeeping force, has been conducting operations to ensure a round-the-clock police visibility.

The task force’s objective is to abate the proliferation of political violence caused by vendetta and old grudges.

Chief Supt. Samuel Diciano, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, said the law enforcers have also intensified foot and mobile patrol operations in the province to boost the campaign against loose firearms.

Diciano, who is also Task Force Abra head, was recently promoted to the rank of chief superintendent, the equivalent of one-star general.

While saying that the peace and order situation in Abra is under control, the police official admitted there are still several aspects of law enforcement which have to be strengthened in order to check violence in the province, especially with the anticipated intense political rivalry in the coming elections.

Diciano said one of the thrusts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is to check the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in the province.

Of the over one million illegal firearms in the country, Cordillera accounts for at least 6,000 loose firearms, and some 3,000 are in Abra.

Meanwhile, discussed during the peace summit was the national and local elections next year, which many Abra residents fear would be another bloodbath if measures to check violence are not put in place this early.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police leadership tagged this province as a critical area in next year’s polls, prompting it to place Abra in the watchlist of potential hotspots.

The summit was organized by the Abra multi-sectoral group, supported and funded by the Asia Foundaion and United Nations aid program. Provincial, municipal and barangay officials, heads of national and local government offices, Church leaders, and members of non-governmental groups discussed issues over the unstable peace and order situation in this province.

“We aim in this summit to create a high level of social awareness of what good governance really is, so that the needs of the people will be adequately addressed. We met to discuss how to follow the right paths to lasting peace and justice, especially with the onset of the election fever,” Abra Bishop Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD, said in an interview.

The Bangued prelate, the primary mover of peace and justice drive here, expressed optimism that with the efforts they put into the crusade, they could change the situation in Abra.

“Through this peace summit, we can show to the world that we can continue the spirit of peace and brotherhood, and that order shall reign in Abra. This is the greatest challenge of the (SVD) centennial celebration,” the bishop said.