Sulu Governor Totoh Tan with ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and other regional government officials and military commanders. (Photos by Ahl-franzie Salinas)
SULU – Sulu Governor Totoh Tan has renewed calls on the public and urged citizens to support authorities and government efforts in maintaining peace and order and at the same time help in nation-building to achieve progress and prosperity. Tan made the appeal following a security meeting Thursday at the Capitol in Patikul town.
The meeting was attended by senior military officials and municipal mayors and representatives of various sectors in Sulu. “I urged everybody and all stakeholders and partners to actively engage and get involved, and have a sense of concern for the environment and the welfare of the people and sustain development, social justices and human security,” he said.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Sulu, briefed Tan and those who attended the meeting on the operations of the military against the Abu Sayyaf, whose group has recently abducted 6 people in the province. The military and the provincial government are also drafting a plan of action for psycho-social interventions for 30 Abu Sayyaf fighters who recently surrendered to authorities.
The military also said that it is closely working and coordinating with the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front and its rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in pursuing peace initiatives in the province. Just recently, six soldiers were killed and 4 others wounded in a clash with Abu Sayyaf militants and MILF rebels in Basilan province. The MILF accused the soldiers of encroaching into its territory that trigged a firefight, an allegation denied by security officials who claimed Abu Sayyaf gunmen ambushed the infantrymen securing the circumferential road in Sumisip town.
Both Sulu and Basilan belong to the Muslim autonomous region. Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman and Public Works Secretary Don Loong and Health Secretary Kadil Sinolinding, Jr were also in Sulu and met with Tan and discussed various infrastructure projects and health programs for the province. Hataman said they launched a P400-million port expansion project in the capital town of Jolo and a medical mission in Sulu. (Ahl-franzie Salinas)
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