MANILA – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has commended the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) for their efforts in maintaining security within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The JPSTs are composed of members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. Their primary role is to ensure peace and order in regions designated by agreements between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), support ceasefire arrangements, and aid in resolving disputes.
Gil Cambronero, who leads the secretariat of the MILF Joint Peace and Security Committee, praised the JPSTs for their ongoing development as a peacekeeping force. ‘Congratulations to the JPSTs for their persistent improvement through training and for sharing their knowledge with other teams. They are crucial in effectively expanding the initiative to other JPST units,’ he stated.
The peacekeeping force is continuously trained in community-focused security and conflict resolution, enhancing their abilities to interact with local communities, manage conflicts, and uphold human rights.
During a recent training session in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, JPST members pinpointed several local challenges, including family feuds over land disputes, which are often worsened by the availability of guns in the community; illegal drug operations, with fears of drug syndicates operating in various neighborhoods; and a shortage of essential services like consistent electricity, robust telecommunication, and dependable water supply.