LAMITAN CITY, Basilan — The security forces in Basilan province and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members attended a forum on Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) Updates, Ceasefire Protocols and Amnesty.

The forum aims to enhance awareness and understanding of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF, particularly the key achievements attained through the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, the final peace agreement signed between the Government of the Philippines and MILF.

The forum also reminded the participants of the importance of adherence to ceasefire mechanisms, and the implementation of amnesty measures as part of the normalization track.

101st Infantry (Three Red Arrows) Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon highlighted the brigade’s commitment to peace and stability. “From the beginning, I have always welcomed even the smallest efforts contributing to sustaining peace.

“Together with our soldiers and the Philippine National Police, we are willing to offer our lives to uphold peace. You can count on us to continuously advocate for peace-related efforts,” Luzon said.

“This commitment should be in our minds and deeply rooted in our hearts. Basilan has come a long way. For me, whatever incidents may have occurred recently, they are isolated cases. Nonetheless, let us work together to address them,” Luzon said.

To our peace partners, the MILF, as we go back to our respective areas, let us share what we have discussed here. It is essential to inform those unaware and enhance the understanding of those who need it, Luzon’s statement continued.

Additionally, he said, “With your support, I am confident we can strengthen our aspiration for a peaceful, safe, and progressive Basilan.”

MILF-CCCH chairman Butch Malang said, “Let us not give any chance for past conflicts to happen again in our area because, in the end, it will only lead to regret. We are no longer in that situation; we have already moved on.”

“If mistakes were made, our focus should now be on how to prevent them, learn from them, and ensure that such mistakes will never be repeated,” Malang added.

MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) chairman Dir. Anwar Alamada, emphasized, “The war between the Government and the MILF is over. We no longer need armed conflicts. If there are disagreements in the political and normalization tracks, let us refer them to our respective parties. We are open to receiving any concerns and can address them through non-adverse means.”

Police Major General Romaldo G. Bayting, chairman of GPH AHJAG, stressed, “We don’t want more lives to be lost in the future. If either side has lives to lose, neither will win. We have to stop the atrocities. We have to protect that; we have to give our commitment to that. We should have personal advocacies that we will take care of the gains and momentum that we have in our peace process.”