Military honors Sulu leaders

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine military has honored political leaders in Sulu for their unrelenting support to peace and development efforts and in the government’s campaign to defeat terrorism in the southern province.

Photos released by the military's Western Mindanao Command to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner on Monday, August 23, 2021 show Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan with Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan and his municipal mayors who were honored and awarded plaques of appreciation for their unwavering support to peace and development efforts in the province.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, led senior military officials in recognizing the unwavering support of the provincial and municipal governments in their campaign.

Vinluan thanked Gov. Sakur Tan, Vice Gov. Toto Tan and his municipal mayors, including Sulu Reps. Samier Tan and Munir Arbison, and gave each of them a plaque of appreciation in a ceremony held over the weekend at the Western Mindanao Command here.

“The Western Mindanao Command recognized the invaluable support of the local chief executives of Sulu to the command’s thrusts. “I would like to personally extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support to all our campaigns particularly in ending terrorism and violent extremism in Sulu. Without your support we will not be able to achieve what we have accomplished,” Vinluan said in a press statement released on Monday.

The governor also reciprocated Vinluan’s praises and said the peace and order situation in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao, has greatly improved and he thanked the Western Mindanao Command and soldiers for their efforts in helping the police in maintaining peace and order in the province.

“Sulu loves you General Vinluan. Under your leadership, the military used approaches that effectively changed the security landscape in Sulu. The peace situation is far better now than it used to be,” Tan said.

“You exemplified that war is not the solution to the security concerns in our province. Thank you for assisting us in bringing back the IDPs to their respective barangays through the Balik-Barangay Program that we co-initiated. Even after your retirement, you are very much welcome to visit Sulu anytime you want,” he added.

Tan was referring to the provincial government’s humanitarian efforts in areas affected by the anti-insurgency campaign.

Among those who honored by the military were Luuk Mayor Maryam Arbison, Lugus Mayor Hadar Hajiri, Kalingalan Caluang Mayor Nurshamier Halun, Omar Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibon, Old Panamao Mayor Al-Frazier Abdurajak, Pata Mayor Abdurauf Burahan, Siasi Mayor Ben Sayeed Muksan, Tongkil Mayor Whahid Sahidulla, Panglima Estino Mayor Munib Estino, Pandami Mayor Nurhan Berto, Jolo Mayor Kerkhar Tan, Indanan Mayor Hermot Jikiri, Parang Mayor Al-Khadar Loong, Maimbug Mayor Shihla Hayudini, Talipao Mayor Nivocadnezar Tulawie, Pangutaran Mayor Asri Taib, Hadji Panglima Tahil Mayor Mohamad Mustafa Burahan, Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini and Tapul Mayor Nasser Daud.

Vinluan said there had been no ransom kidnappings in the province and that the number of Abu Sayyaf militants is now dwindling due to the continued government campaign and mass surrender of insurgents the past years. (Mindanao Examiner)