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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Basilan unveils peace monument in Sumisip

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The Basilan provincial government has, unveiled a Kasanyangan peace monument in Barangay Mahatallang in Sumisip town.

Top national and local officials led the March 4 event held at the Sampinit Complex, an area which even battle-hardened soldiers feared to tread in this once strife-torn town.

The unveiling of the monument was among the highlights of the week-long celebration of Basilan’s 49th founding anniversary.Decommissioned firearms were used as a testament to the people’s commitment to reject armed violence struggle in favor of peace and progress.

The decommissioned firearms were collected through the efforts of the Small Arms and Light Weapons of the Joint Normalization Committee, a peace mechanism that was created under the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Basilan Governor Jim Hataman said that the “Kasanyangan” (Peace) Monument will serve as a memoir of the decades of conflict when the all-out war against peace and development spoilers ensue the dawning of peace in the island province.

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 “Sumisip, as we all know, has been one of the municipalities in Basilan where there was a tremendous challenge in terms of peace and security,” Hataman said.

Sumisip Mayor Jul Adnan Hataman said the town earned notorious monikers such as “Abu Sayyaf nest, never ending Ridoh, or beheading capital.”

“Those were the terms used to describe Sumisip before,” Jul Hataman said.

“For decades, we have endured the bitter taste of terrorism, peoplelost lives and properties, some [were] forced to leave their home andbe displaced, and for many years, and lived in fear during thosetimes,” Jul Hataman added

According to the governor, the peace monument is a visualnarrative of the province’s remarkable transformation over the years –from a battle zone into an emerging trade, investment and tourism hubin Western Mindanao.

“It also serves as a reminder for every Basileño to take an activepart in sustaining the dividends of peace in Basilan,” Salliman said.

Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez recalled the times when he was assigned in Basilan as a junior military officer when he and his team shed sweat, blood, and tears to fight against the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group and rescue kidnap victims.

“There is no development if there is no peace. I would like toprofoundly congratulate everyone who worked hard for the realizationof our goal which is to attain lasting peace here in Basilan,” Galvezsaid.

“This Kasangyangan monument, we will show to the whole world, to the whole Philippines that this is where real peace began- in Basilan. Wein the national government, this is our commitment and aspiration,” Galvez said.

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