An anniversary of golden optimism

In keeping with the provincial title as the “Land of Beauty and Bounty,” and fitting to a golden anniversary associated with optimism and wealth, Lanao del Norte have shown all these marks during its 50th Founding Anniversary celebration.

Despite the disturbing memories of the August 2008 atrocity on the towns of Kolambugan and Kauswagan and the lingering threat of violence in the area, Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo remained unfazed and more determined to make the celebration truly festive. He has maintained that his responsibility is to promote the image of the province; make it attractive to tourists and investors. Understandably as these approaches are the keys to economic prosperity. And so, all over the province were striking banners —“LDN 50 Anyos Na, Panaghiusa, Kalinaw ug Kalambuan Ipadayun Ta”—calling for everybody to pursue unity, peace and progress. Matching activities were then set to portray and promote the stability and growth of the province, regionally if not nationally.


Festivities started officially on 24 June in the southern and coastal town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo with a grand fluvial parade evoking the rich cultural pomp of the Moros. The colorful vintas were made more dramatic by the rhythm of the Maranao kulintangs. From these boats alighted the local participants to the beauty pageant like sirens from the sea. The days were filled with merriment including a concert by Bamboo, the most popular rock band in the country; and The Singing Bee Contest, a popular TV singing competition hosted by actor Cesar Montano. While the Manila-based entertainers have amused the local folks, they intimated to have also learned the beauty of the place and corrected the negative impressions they have previously held. Agricultural and livestock produce were also showcased as well as their rich culture during the 10-day celebration. The last night even featured a 30-minute fireworks display, considered as the most fabulous ever in the province. The perceptive governor was kind enough to even offer the spectacle as a gift to my wife and son who were around and incidentally celebrating their birthdays.






The Culmination Day, July 4, held at the capital town of Tubod brought the DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr as the guest speaker considering the role of his department in the attainment of peace. He expressed amazement and admiration in the speedy recovery of the province from the recent atrocities; he lauded the people especially the provincial governor for their optimism and achievement—an acknowledgement that the attitude of leaders and its people would remain to be crucial in charting their future directions.

See related article: Teodoro welcomes back 130 MILF combatants (SunStar) & Teodoro says ‘open-door’ policy will continue (Manila Bulletin by Elena L. Aben)

Welcoming our prodigal brothers

Reminiscent of the story of the “prodigal son,” this time to our Filipino brothers, I along with my division commander and the provincial governor received the group of Mabaning Andamun Lucsadato.

Mabaning, known as either Benjie or Protector—the highest ranking commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who has so far defected to the government— is the commander of the 101st Brigade of the former Camp Bilal Base Command of the MILF Northern Mindanao Front. His group served as guards of the former the camp’s complex covering the towns of Munai and Poona Piagapo in Lanao del North and further south in Piagapo and Madalum in Lanao del Sur.

His forces, while not under the control of Abdullah Macapaar alias Bravo, have given support—security, manpower, and supplies—to the MILF activities in the area. Bravo’s group has been outlawed and is being sought after for attacking the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte in August 2008, killing 26 people and burning several houses.

See related articles at Philippine Army Website, Inquirer.Net, Journal Online, Business Mirror, ManilaTimes, PIA, and AFP Website (PDF).

Benjie came to me about a week ago saying he and his group wanted to lay down their firearms and return to our fold. He said he was tired of fighting and always on the run. He wanted to go back to his family whom he had neglected for being a leader of the MILF. I welcomed his intentions, telling him it was an honorable thing to do.






I told him that he and his men are better off joining the government to pursue more productive activities for their own families and their respective communities instead of wasting their time and energies in a shooting war with government forces—even as the lives of their families and the ordinary civilians have been caught in between. Their return will surely go a long way in reducing the threat posed by the outlaws in the area, hasten a climate of peace, and help build better communities in the province.

The decision of Benjie and his group to return is a victory on their part as well as of their families as they made a bold but beneficial move to help our society. We, in the military also share this achievement since this is in pursuit of the priorities set by the 1st Division Commander, Major General Romeo Lustestica, in upholding the peace process while taking punitive as well as restrictive measures against the lawless group of the MILF. Similarly, this is surely a welcome occasion by our local government executives with no less than the governor strongly promoting the establishment of a secure and peaceful condition so progress and development can take place in Lanao del Norte.




Perhaps, it is either by coincidence or by deliberate hostile action that the nearby Agus Bridge was blasted few hours before their formal welcome. Despite this, the ceremony—in the presence of their families whom we have invited—pushed through with their presentation to the public and the symbolic acceptance of the group by the Commander of the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army; subsequently, they were turned over to our political leader, the Governor of Lanao del Norte—Honorable Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo—who administered their oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines to indicate their return to our society.

On their own, the former rebels shed their MILF uniforms and burned them.

Welcome back to the fold.

Lanao officials meet to end bloody feuds

Similar/Related Articles:
Mindanao Examiner: Lanao officials hold peace dialogue
Philippine Star: Military ordered to crackdown on 'rido' groups

Tubod, Lanao del Norte (22 November). In an effort to end bloody reprisals locally in Lanao as “rido,” local political leaders, military, and police officials on Fridays converged in the remote Magsaysay town of Lanao del Norte, the site of the recent atrocity, to dialogue with the local folks.

The practice of rido particularly in the town was attributed to disputes arising from business rivalry or being shortchanged in their deals. This individual grudges later worsened as blood debts that had widened into clan wars. Just last week, Municipal Councilman Generoso Jamora was slain in what was believed to be part of a string of reprisals among the populace. The nearby town of Salvador had also been the site of another feud that resulted in the ambush of a group of Maranaos.

Father and son, Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo of the 2^nd District and Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of the province were joined by 104^th Infantry Brigade Commander Col Benito de Leon and Police Region 10 Chief Supt Teoderico Capuyan to discuss arrangements to prevent further violence in the area.  The group later met with the people of the town to appeal to end the bloody feuds that had claimed lives and threatened to escalate into a bigger conflict.  

Congressman Dimaporo who was celebrating his birthday gave way to attend to this concern which he feared may escalate to create a divide between the Christians and the Muslims or the Maranaos and the other ethnic groups.  He directed the police authorities to speed up investigation in order to identify the suspects to be charged in court so as to prevent people to take the law in their own hands. He appealed for unity to attain true peace and order citing. He even cited that though he is a Muslim he got married to a Christian from the Quibranza family: his father hoped that such union will achieve peace in the land. He had to endure ridicule in many occasions if only to support the aspirations for peace.

Also, Governor Dimaporo echoed the sentiments of the his father and called for unity among the people so that they can better attain security and further take on development activities. He says that his priority concern is in bringing the rogue element of Macapaar aka Bravo who sowed violence in the province.

Meanwhile, Supt Capuyan assured the locals that he had stationed more police forces in the area to curb further violence. He also asked the people to cooperate with and trust the police so that justice can be served faster. Col de Leon, also, said that he had placed an Army unit, referring to 32^nd Infantry Battalion, to attend to the security in the area and assist the police in law enforcement activities. This would include running after the lawless armed groups that may seek to undertake the extra-judicial option of “rido.”

The army commander stressed that the cycle of violence of “rido” will be unending if everyone does not do anything to stop it.  He says that the mistakes we do now will be paid by future generations. “We owe it to the future generations to make right the foundations we prepare for them,” emphasized de Leon.

RP-US Military projects up in Lanao

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Gov Dimaporo okeys ACC

Similar/Related Articles:
Tempo: Guard posts vs. MILFs set up in Lanao Norte
GMA News TV: Center vs MILF threats to be set up in Lanao del Norte
Sunstar: Coordinating center put up in Lanao del Norte

Tubod, Lanao del Norte (19 November). An Area Coordinating Center (ACC) for the Province of Lanao del Norte was ordered to be established by Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo today.

The ACC is a mechanism borne out of Executive Order No. 21 creating a coordinative and integrated system on internal security. It serves as a point of contact of the Peace and Order Council, Disaster Coordinating Council, Development Council, Non-Government Organizations, People’s Organizations, and other entities at the sub-national and local levels. The operational concerns include developmental operations, counterinsurgency, anti-organized crime, maintenance of peace and order, disaster relief and rehabilitation, environmental enhancement and protection, and other special events that need concerted efforts or actions of cognizant government agencies and NGOs.

Col Benito de Leon, the 104^th Infantry Brigade Commander, after the presentation of the mechanics of the ACC recommended its establishment, and clarified that the center can be created directly under the authority of the Local Chief Executive which in the case for the province would be the governor. He says that the role of the military will be in support to its day-to-day operations of the center. Dimaporo admitted having wanted to have such arrangement in place even long before the MILF-initiated atrocities on the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan last 18 August.

The army commander earlier urged the need for strengthening the integrated territorial defense system in the area to better secure the communities. De Leon stressed that the establishment of the ACC for Lanao del Norte will greatly help the local executive attend to the various governance concerns in the province including security.

PGMA Visit at Lanao del Norte

LANAO DEL NORTE – Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Headquarters of 104Bde, Maria Cristina, Iligan on 18 September 2008. PGMA surveys a token presented to her. 104th Brigade Commander Col Benito de Leon, Rep Abdullah Dimaporo and Rep Vicente Belmonte Jr stands behind the president.