ISABELA CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) on Tuesday launched the Program Against Violent Extremism
(PAVE) in a fresh bid to combat terrorism and promote peace in five provinces
under it.
PAVE is the regional government's first model
program in providing various interventions to former Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
members who surrendered to the government, and their families. It will
also cater to returnees from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said program is
recognized by the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC), and will officially
be part of the national government’s reintegration program dubbed as CLIP or
Comprehensive Local Integration Program aimed at achieving permanent and
peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with rebel groups.
He said the ARMM government is committed to do all
the necessary measures to address violent extremism. The program's core
principles are to bridge social gaps, balance the military and non-military
offensives, and attain justice. “Marami na tayong pinagdaanan pero walang
sustainable na solution kaya inaasahan po natin na itong programa ay magiging
daan at simula ng permanenteng kapayapaan dito sa ARMM,” he said.
Hataman said after processing procedures by the
local government unit and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the surrendering
Abu Sayyaf members will be endorsed to the ARMM government for psychosocial,
economic, educational and spiritual interventions.
“And we will allow them to live as normal and
productive citizens in their communities, and they will be the advocates for
peace against violent extremism,” he said, adding that the cycle of violence
must end.
The program seeks to prevent returnees from going
back, provide an opportunity to start anew, encourage more ASGs to surrender,
provide an avenue for healing, and increase grassroots support to countering
violent extremism.
“Ang pinaka-goal naman talaga ng programang ito ay
sumuko na lahat ng mga Abu Sayyaf, at naway dumating ang araw na wala ng mga
rebelde sa buong rehiyon,” Hataman said.
The returnees will automatically be the recipients
of the regional government's banner programs - ARMM's Health, Education,
Livelihood, Peace and Governance, and Synergy and ARMM's Bangsamoro Regional
Inclusive Development with Growth and Equity.
“We made sure na lahat ng mga sumukong Abu Sayyaf
na may mga pending cases ay hindi magiging benepisyaryo ng programang ito,”
Hataman said.
Returnee Wiril Muril said: "Dati ang daming
pangako sa amin, dati puro salita lang pero ngayon ramdam na mas magandang
mabuhay nang payapa at mas nararamdaman na namin na handang tumulong ang
gobyerno sa amin."
Army Colonel Juvymax Uy, commander of the 104th
Brigade based here, said Basilan will be “the model of the program that will
help solve violent extremism in Mindanao.”
PAVE will also be launched in the provinces of Sulu
and Tawi-Tawi. There are 139 ASG returnees in Basilan; 61 in Sulu; and 23 in
Tawi-Tawi. Four BIFF members also surrendered in the province of Maguindanao.
Lanao del Sur is also part of the ARMM.
The regional government has called on members of
the rebel groups to peacefully surrender and take advantage of the government's
offer for them to start a new life.
Child soldier bikes to new life
Tarik happily rode a bicycle
during the launching of the PAVE. He was given a bicycle after he and 138 other
Abu Sayyaf members attended the event at the headquarters of the Army’s 4th
Special Forces Battalion. Tarik is only 10 years old.
The youngest among eight
siblings, Tarik said all of them were members of the ASG. Three of his siblings
were killed while fighting government forces, two (including him) surrendered,
while the rest are still in hiding.
He said his parents were
killed by government forces. “Maliit pa ako non. Dumedede pa ako noon kaya
hindi ko maalala,” he said.
According to his grandfather,
the boy’s pregnant mother had just taken a bath when shot. “Kakatapos lang
niyang maligo, bigla siyang binaril. Napagkamalan silang members ng Abu
Sayyaf”, he said.
He and his siblings joined
the ASG last year, when his grandmother passed away due to illness. He
said they agreed to join the group because they were promised free food.
Tarik, on the other hand,
found a chance to avenge the death of his parents. “Galit ako sa gobyerno kasi
sila ang pumatay sa mga magulang ko,” he said.
Reminiscing the past, Tarik
said life as a bandit was hard which prompted him to join his leader when they
surrendered to the government last year.
“Sayol (vegetables) at dried
fish palagi ang pagkain namin doon sa bundok,” he said.
Hataman said Tarik and others
now have a chance to new life. “Iba’t ibang dahilan ang kanilang pagsama sa Abu
Sayyaf. Dahil iba’t ibang dahilan ang kanilang pagsama, gumawa din tayo ng
iba’t ibang programa at alituntunin ang dapat iakay sa kanila. Ito ay
oportunidad para sa bagong buhay,” he said.
Tarik now believes in peace.
He also believes that children should enjoy the company of other children and
play freely—without the fear of being killed.
Hataman said Tarik can go
back to school with the help of PAVE.
Tarik, however, could still
not say what his dreams are. All he knows is that he will no longer have
to be in hiding. He said he wants to pursue Islamic Studies. (Bureau of Public
Information)
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