Article by:
Edwin Fernandez
CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – A total of 142 graduates of the 4th Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) training here are set for deployment Thursday across the region, officials said.
This came about after the officials of the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) witnessed the closing ceremonies for the 4th batch of JPST trainees from the police, Army, and former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“The combined 142 successful training participants are now confirmed as full-fledged members of the JPST,” said Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, Police Regional Office (PRO) - BARMM police director.
The JPST is a mechanism that supports the Government of the Philippines (GPH) - MILF peace agreement to address and prevent hostilities, work on security arrangements for activities and personalities involved in the peace process, and support dispute resolution initiatives on the ground.
Ugale said the training was specifically designed to equip government forces and former MILF combatants to become competent peacekeeping forces in their assigned areas.
“The training aims to equip the JPST members with needed knowledge and skills to effectively carry out their mandate in ensuring peace and security in areas mutually identified by the government and the MILF,” he said.
In a statement, Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM interior minister and concurrent BARMM spokesperson, has lauded the perseverance shown by the participants in their 30-day training on peacekeeping and peacebuilding concerns.
“The graduates will be deployed in the areas mutually agreed between the GPH and the MILF tasked to track and document private armed groups (PAGs), and help in the reduction and control of weapons,” Sinarimbo, a lawyer, said.
The BARMM official was also the guest of honor and speaker during Wednesday’s culmination program held at the PRO-BARMM parade grounds here in Parang town.
The BARMM cover the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, and Lamitan; the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi; and the 63 villages in six towns in North Cotabato. (PNA)
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