Parang, Maguindanao, April 24, 2017 – More than a hundred members of Tiyakap Kalilintad Inc., (TKI) have gathered at Barangay Nituan this municipality on April 23, 2017 in an effort to strengthen community security actions.
The Iranun cluster of TKI in coordination with Local Government Unit of Parang, Maguindanao conducted Peace Advocacy on Human Rights and Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP).
The event was graced by eminent personalities from the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and Nonviolent Peace Force (NP).
Village Councilman Salik Adam Ramalan of Barangay Nituan in his opening remarks expressed his gratitude to TKI for choosing their locality as the venue.
In the open forum, an NP representative presented a lecture on UCP. “In countless times, in every shot from the guns of warring groups, civilians are the first victims,” said Sarato Pasante.
Meanwhile, Captain Jerry B. Gaviola of 37th IB, 6 ID, Philippine Army proudly expressed their accomplishments in maintaining peace within their areas of jurisdiction. The Municipal Police also imparted their share of improving security of the local populations.
Abu Asma of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Information Committee shared his thoughts and views on the current status of the peace process and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
“Our struggle for Right to Self-Determination is a long journey without any shortcut, and tested by inevitable stumbling block in many forms that something anticipated, “Abu Asma said.
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RHRC-ARMM) also delivered topics on the Universality of Human Rights and some guidelines and protocols on arresting “criminals.”
The IMT explained their mandates as a third party that monitors the implementation of the ceasefire agreement as contained in the peace agreements signed between the Government of the Philippines, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH - MILF).
Abdulnasser Binasing, Operations Manager of the TKI presented the rationale of the program. He challenged everyone to play their part in having the dreamed peace exist in Moro homeland.
“While some people chose to side with those obstructing the peace initiatives, others resort to violent means of asserting what they want, we at Tiyakap Kalilintad in response, go for the reverse, that is peaceful and the nonviolent ways.” he stressed.