BARMM News
Guest author:
- ATTY. NAGUIB G. SINARIMBO, Minister, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM-MILG)
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-jQJ
PATIKUL, Sulu — From Indanan we proceeded to Patikul to break ground for the construction of a first ever Reformation Center for “rebel returnees”, in particular former Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members in the province of Sulu.
Patikul, and in particular Barangay Langhub, where the center will be built, is a known ASG stronghold just a few years ago. In fact, while we were leaving Cotabato, our Team was still debating whether it was a good idea to put the Reformation Center in this area. I trusted the military and our locals in this area. And so even if it was already getting dark in this area, we proceeded with the program just the same.
General Benjamin Batara of the 1103 Brigade and his officers as well as the LGU of Patikul under Mayor Hayudini joined us in this event. The location was in the interior and given that it rained that day, the path leading to the site was slippery.
The Reformation Center will serve as the half way house for these rebels who have decided to rejoin the mainstream society. It is a complement to our Project TuGoN and will serve as the venue for their skills development training as well as re-orientation.This will be a safe space that will prepare them to rejoin our society and become productive members of our community. This was a project specifically requested by the WesMinCom (Western Mindanao Command) Commander General Rosario when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Minister (Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim) last year. It is a partnership between our ministry, the LGU (local government unit) and our security sector.
We left Patikul when it was already dark and proceeded to the other end of the Sulu main island, Luuk. Just very recently, no one dared to traverse this road at night, but here we are on a journey to the far end of Sulu and enjoying the serenity of the surroundings. Peace, indeed, is taking root in this once troubled paradise. (✓)
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Featured image is an artist’s concept of the BARMM’s first Reformation Center Building for Rebel Returnees in the province.
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(Editor’s Note: Interior Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo joined the Philippine Airlines (PAL) inaugural flight to Tawi-Tawi on June 9, 2022, marking PAL’s flights from Cotabato City (capital and seat of government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM to the island province. This is part of the chronicle of his trip with PAL. BARMM has three island provinces, all in Western Mindanao or Region IX. Its landlock provinces are Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.)