The ambassador: promoting goodwill

"Your Excellency, welcome to Lanao del Norte--the area of 104th Infantry Brigade," I greeted the US Ambassador Kristie Kenney in according her the military courtesy extended to visiting dignitaries.

Ambassador Kenney was the first and highest ranking foreign diplomat to have visited my brigade's area of responsibility since I assumed. While her plane landed at Iligan Airport in Baloi, she was heading for Marawi City in Lanao del Sur that day to visit the progress of USAID projects. The ambassador was very spirited even recalling our first meeting in 2007, when I represented the 10th Infantry Division in a social function she hosted, aboard USS Blue Ridge--the command ship of the US 7th Fleet--then anchored at General Santos City.




Our brief discussions with her along with Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Dimaporo and Robert Barnes of USAID (Office of Economic Development and Governance) were on projects to sustain peace and development in the area. She was glad to note that the US military have been supporting me very well in my civil-military activities. She clarified that requests for US military assistance by the communities will have to be channeled to the local military authorities.

As heavy rains in the afternoon stalled her trip back to Manila, she made use of the moments for light exchanges with the people around and cheerfully obliged to pose for picture taking. She even delighted them by distributing souvenir US-RP flags lapel pins.

Her enthusiasm and boldness to reach out to the depressed areas even those with negative travel advisories may have been dreadful to her security detail. Nonetheless, this effort indicates sincerity and resolve to pursue the direction set by US President Barack Obama as laid down in his inaugural speech: "America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity . . . that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace . . . To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect . . . To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds."

Ms. Kenney's serious commitment in best representing her country--to "breakdown the network of violence and hatred," and to promote the good will of the American people--may very well regard her as an ambassador in its truest sense.

May God Bless our ambassadors as they promote good will, harmony, and peace. God Bless the United States of America and God Bless the Philippines!

Reintegrating our wayward brothers

Over the weekend, I joined Major General Romeo Lustestica—Commander of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division—in accepting another batch of former separatist rebels which yielded to one of my forces in Lanao del Norte.

Lt Col Jones Agustin of the 32nd Infantry Battalion presented them along with their firearms to General Lustestica. Later, Lanao del Norte Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo administered the oath of allegiance to the former rebels.

See related articles: PIA, PhilStar, and PA Website.






The former rebels appeared tired, but hopeful of their future. Their leaders who spoke during the ceremony affirmed their plight and justified that they were misled by the MILF. With their defection, they requested that they be given opportunities to serve as policemen or with the CAFGUs, to access scholarship programs including available livelihood packages.

At that time, Governor Dimaporo announced that he is currently working on the similar requests including a proposed resettlement area for the group of Mabaning Lucsadatu, an MILF brigade commander, who surrendered earlier. He reports that initial arrangements have already been done with the Mindanao State University for scholarships. He explains that for the other items, however, certain requirements and legal processes will have to be complied. Nevertheless, the new group cheered when he promised to work on similar packages for them.

Unlike the NPA which are accorded with a Social Integration Program (SIP) for their surrender, MILF rebels don’t have a uniform incentive package prescribed except for the payment of firearms they surrender to government. Other incentives or assistance depend upon the appreciation and resourcefulness of Local Government Executives.
Despite this, the military will continue to welcome and reintegrating our wayward brothers with the help of the different sectors of society if only to hasten their peaceful return to the communities and make them more productive citizens.

Perhaps, we can draw inspiration from the lines in the acceptance speech of General Lustestica which is translated and rephrased—“Let us make this as a model so we can encourage the return to the folds of the government our other brothers who continue to believe in an armed and bloody confrontation. Let us give them and their families a place in our society for them to have peaceful lives under the democracy we enjoy.”

Message of Division Commander

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