NEWSFLASH

LANAO DEL SUR LOCAL PEACE COUNCILS PROPOSED

Lanao del Sur, Jan. 2, 2000- The Armed Force of the Philippines’ new battalion commander in charge of 9 Lanao del Sur towns is proposing that each municipality form a local peace council, to defuse tension and prevent future encounters in the area.

The suggestion, coming a month after the bloody encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Calanugas, Lanao del Sur, was made by Lt. Col. Benito de Leon. He commands the 58th Infantry Battalion that has nine Lanao del Sur towns under its area of responsibility: Pualas, Ganazzi, Binidayan, Lumbatan, Pagayawan, Calanugas, Lumbayanague, Tubaran and Sultan Dumalondong

De Leon met with several mayors and chiefs of police and assured the local executives of the battalion’s full support, and explained that the military’s role is to restore peace and order, maintain political stability, and secure the environment conducive for development.

One of the measures suggested by De Leon is to establish peace and order council in every municipality. “Had the Calanugas organized a peace and order council, the encounters might have been prevented,” De Leon said.

De Leon promised to help the LGUs in the delivery of basic services, disaster coordination, rescue operation, and maintaining peace and order.