Sulu barangay chief vows to maintain peace and order in Indanan

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Barangay Chairman Sahabil J. Israel (right) of Barangay Jati Tunggal poses for posterity with Sulu Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan after the signing of the “Parjanjian” or Peace Covenant in Pasil, Indanan, Sulu. **(JIJ)**

INDANAN, Sulu

The barangay chairman of Jati Tunggal in Indanan, Sulu has fully committed to uphold full security of peace by combatting all sources of evils not only in his barangay but in the entire municipality of Indanan to include the Province of Sulu.

Barangay Chairman Sahabil Israel expressed his commitment during the signing of a peace covenant called “Indanan Parjanjian” (Indanan Covenant) which was signed by the town’s 34 barangays held in Pasil Indanan, Sulu recently.

Barangay Jati Tunggal is one of the 34 barangays of Indanan that actively participated in the peace covenant which was initiated by Indanan Mayor Hermot Jikiri.

Although Jati Tunggal is a peaceful barangay and there is no ASG roaming around this barangay unlike in other municipality like Patikul, Israel emphasized that they could not be complacent with the situation.

“We should be on guard 24/7and we have let our Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) on alert always,” added Israel.

In the covenant, the 34 barangays denounced the local terrorist group (LTG) specifically the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu by declaring them Persona Non-Grata, meaning an unacceptable or unwelcome person in their localities.

CENTER OF POWER: Jati Tunggal Barangay Chairman Sahabil J. Israel is at the Center of military power with (left) Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, Commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu and concurrently the Commanding General of the 11th Infantry (Alakdan) Division. and (right) is Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan,Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command based in Calarian, Zamboanga City. **(JIJ)**

“We are declaring these terrorists as Persona Non-Grata here in Indanan and we vow to support the military, police, and other security agencies in bringing lasting peace and progress in our beloved municipality,” said Jikiri.

The occasion was also attended by Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan, Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) and Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, who is concurrently the commanding general of the 11th Infantry (Alakdan) Division.

Likewise, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) Director Police Brig. Gen. Samuel Rodriguez, PNP SAF Director Police Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba, other AFP and PNP officers, peace-inclined groups, representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and other stakeholders also attended the “Parjanjian.” (JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL)