ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf rebel has surrendered to the police in the restive province of Basilan in southern Philippines where government efforts continue to lure militants to return to the fold of the law.
The 28-year Lukman Buddiman Ladjaman also surrendered his M-79 and M-203 grenade launcher and rifle to the police and vowed to help in government peace advocacy campaign in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM.
Ladjaman said he was under Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Radzmer Jannatul.
His surrender came after ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman has called on members of the militant group to lay down their weapons and return to the fold of the law and live a peaceful life with their loved ones.
“We are extending peace to the Abu Sayyaf. We want you to re-join society and live peacefully with your families. There is no reason to wage war; there is no reason to fight the government because we are doing everything for the sake of peace, of our children and our future,” Hataman said.
Last week, Hataman, along with security officials, led the distribution in Isabela City of food packs, rice and non-food items to nearly 200 mostly former Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to the military in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the autonomous region.
Those who received the aid were beneficiaries of the Program against Violent Extremism or PAVE, the regional government’s first model program – launched in April this year – in providing various interventions to former Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to the government, and their families. It also caters to returnees from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF.
Hataman also spoke to the former rebels and reminded them of their commitment in helping to promote peace and development in Basilan, just several nautical miles off Zamboanga.
“We are happy to say that those (former Abu Sayyaf members) are very supportive of our peace advocacy and have become partners of government in this endeavour, and we shall continue this (PAVE) program in other parts of ARMM in partnership with various stakeholders until we finally achieve peace in the region,” he said, who also led the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr with the Badjao community in Sumisip town where he distributed food packs and money to the indigenous tribe.
Hataman said PAVE is recognized by the National Peace and Order Council and is now officially 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 local governments 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 also seeks to prevent returnees from going back, provide an opportunity to start anew, encourage more rebels 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. (Mindanao Examiner)
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