PROTOCOL OF COOPERATION. (From L-R) Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chief of Staff Sammy Al- Mansoor, MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group Chairman Atty. Abdul Dataya, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Isidro S. Lapena, OIC-SILG Usec. Catalino S. Cuy, GPH-AHJAG Chairman Police Chief Superintendent . Pierre R. Bucsit and GPH-Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairman Brig. Gen. Earl Baliao sign the Protocol of Cooperation between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF on the anti-illegal drug operations in MILF areas on Friday, June 30 in Hotel Elena, Lanang, Davao City.(Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front cooperation have reached another milestone as the respective representatives signed the protocol of cooperation on the anti-illegal drug operations in MILF communities.
“It is timely that today is another milestone between the government and the MILF because we will be having an agreement signing for the smooth protocol in the conduct of law enforcement operations,” Government of the Philippines Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (GPH-AHJAG) Chairman PCSupt. Pierre R. Bucsit said.
The protocol shall be applied to anti-illegal drug operations and other related activities that will be conducted in the MILF communities.
The protocol provides procedures and defines the roles of government and MILF in law enforcement operation to file drug cases and arrest drug personalities.
GPH- Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-CCCH) Chairman, Brig. Gen. Earl D. Baliao said that they believe there is a need to collaborate and coordinate efforts to be able to further fast track operations against illegal drugs.
“We find it hard in conducting operations in MILF controlled areas. Sometimes the coordination allows our target to get out of the area. That’s why we believe with the crafting and signing of this protocol on the anti-illegal drugs operation we’ll be able to efficiently operate with coordination and support from the MILF and their controlled areas,” Baliao said.
Baliao added that the protocol will help them work properly with their MILF counterpart.
MILF-AHJAG Chairman, Lawyer Abdul M. Dataya also said that the agreement is for the MILF to participate in the enforcement of the operations against illegal drugs in their own communities.
Based on the protocol, areas where MILF members are situated include the seven previously acknowledged MILF camps namely: Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao, Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, Camp Omar Ibn al-Khattab in Maguindanao, Camp Rajahmuda in North Cotabato, Camp Badre in Maguindanao, Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao, and Camp Busrah Somiorang in Lanao del Sur.
“We also have areas all the way to Compostela Valley and the Oriental, and we have five here in Davao. If you look at it, malawak itong area where we are going to work out. We expect improvements,” Dataya said.
Way back in October 21, 2015, the MILF declared the use, sale and proliferation of shabu as “haram” (forbidden) and prohibited in Islam and banned the use and sale of shabu in the Bangsamoro and neighboring areas.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs campaign paved way to for the two parties to intensify law enforcement through the cooperation and coordination agreement.
Meanwhile, earlier in the Mindanao Hour press briefing, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General and also Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs head, Isidro S. Lapeňa said that in Duterte’s first year of administration, a total of 64, 397 operations have been conducted, a 77 percent increase compared to the previous administration.
Lapeňa said that in Maguindanao, 364 barangays or almost 72 percent of the 509 barangays are drug affected.
“This is now the task. We have so many drug affected barangays and we should be able to clear these barangays in due time with the proper procedures that has to be taken,” Lapeňa said.
Lapeňa also expressed appreciation to the MILF brothers “for manifesting support to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs”.
“After almost a year of coordination we have finally institutionalized our cooperation to further strengthen our anti-drug effort and I am humbled by this trust and confidence of our MILF brothers who recognize the critical role that the PDEA shall play in facilitating straight forward coordination and cooperation in drug matters,” Lapeňa said.(davaotoday.com)
