Mt Prov mayors ink pact with AFP on insurgency

By Gina Dizon  

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Five town mayors of this province recently signed an agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for town chief executives to take on the lead role in addressing peace and security in the government’s program to address root causes of insurgency like those on armed conflicts.

           

Top provincial officials are still studying a proposal of the AFP to implement a similar accord in the provincial level with the AFP saying it would help in infrastructure projects of local government units as part of the program.  

The AFP had already forged agreements with mayors Abraham Akilit of Bauko, Wellington Pooten, Besao; Anthony Wooden, Tadian; Gavino Ganggangan Sadanga and Eduardo Latawan Jr of Sagada in separate occasions representing the local government units and Lt. Col Richard Sibayan representing the 50th Infantry Batallion.

The proposed MOA with the provincial government cited role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on suppressing insurgency as per Republic Act 6975  and  Executive Order   546 mandating the  Philippine National Police in “internal security operations to suppress insurgency  and other threats to national security”.

The proposed MOA cited “ synchronization of operations in existing government structures,” the local government unit as represented by the mayor or provincial governor; and establishment of a “deliberate counter insurgency program” in the maintenance of control and authority in respective LGUs and the reduction of root causes of insurgency.

Provincial Peace and Order Council chairman and Gov. Leonard Mayaen during the regular meeting of the PPOC Oct. 9 said the “proposal needs more time” to be discussed in separate venues.  

Said meeting was attended by members of the 50th  Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police, local chief executives, and department heads of government agencies.  

Bontoc mayor Franklin Odsey said, “There has to be clear delineation of roles of LGU executives and the AFP“.

Wooden in a separate interview said the role of the municipal mayor in taking the lead role in counter insurgency (COIN) programs is that on the “hold over and consolidation stage’  providing infrastructure and socio economic support.

Infrastructure and socio economic projects are projected to be sourced from the Pamana at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) funds administered by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

“The LGU shall implement infrastructure projects  as part of the  hold over  and consolidation stage in addressing the root causes of insurgency with respect to  providing the  necessary services  that the people need,” Wooden said.

“Armed operations are neither within the expertise nor the responsibility of LGU executives”, he added.

In a separate interview, Col Richard Sibayan said insurgency has lessened in Mountain Province further saying that internal peace and security measures of the LGU shall be the main responsibility of the chief executive.   

Sibayan added “counterinsurgency operations remain with the AFP unless requested by the local chief executive.”

In the same development, the Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada in their resolution authorized mayor Eduardo Latawan to enter into an agreement with the AFP particularly included in the provisions Sagada as a peace zone and authorizing the municipal Peace Action Group to monitor implementation of the AFP-LGU Sagada accord.

Meanwhile, the officials of the local government units of the eastern towns of Barlig, Natonin, and Paracelis shall hold   separate meetings with the 54rth Infantry Batallion under the leadership of Lt Col Francisco Millare before the end of the year, Information Officer PFC RuelTabliago of the 54rth Infantry Battallion said.