Maimbung, Sulu | Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) in partnership with 41st Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted an Open Dialogue with fifteen (15) Abu Sayyaf Group Returnees in Maimbung, Sulu last February 19, 2022 as part of its Peacebuilding Towards Normalization Program.
The program is the first leg for MPOS to support peacebuilding and normalization for the fifteen (15) ASG returnees in Sulu province. During the dialogue, one of the participants shared the challenges he was encountering since he decided to become an ordinary citizen again. He stated that: “I felt discriminated because of my past, and the fact that I and my fellow returnees were also being threatened by the people in our past engagements, because we chose to become better.
The narrative they shared will be the basis of MPOS strategic plan for future intervention with the local insurgents.
“Mahalaga para sa amin na maintindihan ang inyong pinagdadaanan. Importante din na malaman namin kung ano ang mga nais niyong mangyari nang sagayon alam namin kung ano ang dapat naming ibigay”, said MPOS Peace Program Officer V- Designate Sittie Janine Gamao.
MPOS Director-General Atty. Al-Rashid Balt, Brigade Commander BGen Eugenio C. Boquio PA, of 1101st Brigade, 11ID PA and LT. Salvador Adonis Abeto VI of 41ST IB, AFP were present to facilitate and listen to the returnees’ narrative.
The program aimed to identify the assistance and specific intervention needed by the returnees in their reintegration to the community.
