SPDA presents PEACE concept as socio-economic programs for the MNLF, families

By Julmunir I. Jannaral

Abdulghani “Gerry” A. Salapuddin, administrator and concurrently the chief executive officer (CEO) of Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) has presented the Mujahideen PEACE Village concept, a holistic and comprehensive socio-economic program that intends to settle the MNLF combatants in their former camps. (Contributed Photo)

COTABATO CITY

The Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) presented socio-economic programs intended for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) here in this city on Tuesday.

This is considering the fact that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants are already attended to by the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through the process of decommissioning and normalization.

PEACE Village: Chairman Muslimin Sema (at extreme left) of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) listens to SPDA Administrator & CEO Gerry Salapuddin on the mechanics of PEACE Village intended for the MNLF. Other MNLF officials listening are (2nd from left) Vice Chairman for Foreign Affairs Hatimil E. Hassan and concurrently the BTA Deputy Speaker. At extreme right is Secretary General and Minister of Labor and Employment Romeo Sema. (Contributed Photo)

Abdulghani “Gerry” A. Salapuddin, administrator and concurrent chief executive officer (CEO) of SPDA and his team presented to the Mujahideen PEACE Village concept, a holistic and comprehensive socio-economic program that intends to settle the MNLF combatants in their former camps that are conducive for development.

The PEACE Village proposed the creation of an inter-agency task force of all the concerned agencies of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government to implement the program.

SUARA (Voice) of the MNLF: Former Radio Anchor of Suara Malaysia Alhabsi “Adung” Hassan and a former Sulu Assemblyman of defunct ARMM (with a microphone) stresses a point on the rationale of the creation of Bangsamoro Party (BAPA) where the MNLF is slated to field their own political candidates once BAPA is approved or accredited by the Comelec. (Contributed Photo)

Salapuddin said the word peace literally means the absence of war, threat or danger.

But he further explained that the word PEACE also stands for People Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment, a holistic and sustainable concept of development.

Salapuddin said the SPDA is trying to do away from the piece meal concept like in the past because it did not yield the desired results.

He also told the Philippine Muslim Today that it is the plan of the SPDA to create an ‘Economic Community’ for the MNLF, as well as the MILF, where they will be provided with all the basic services and amenities to make them thrive and transform into a thriving and prosperous economic community.

A group of MNLF Central Committee chaired by Muslimin Sema met at Pagana Restaurant in Cotabato City last Feb. 16 to tackle up some important issues like the need to register with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the MNLF political party called ‘Bangsamoro Party’ or BaPa.

Among the Members of the Central Committee present were Chairman Muslimin Sema; Vice Chairman for Foreign Affairs and incumbent Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Deputy Speaker Hatimil E. Hassan; Secretary General and Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) Minister Romeo Sema; Deputy Chief of Staff and Ministry of Trade Industry and Tourism (MTIT) Minister Abu Amri Taddik; Member of Parliament (MP) Muslimin “Jann” Jakilan; MP Ustadz Abdulmuhmin Mujahid; South Cotabato Chairman Utto Salim Cuttan; Secretary General Muhajir Alih; Palawan Chairman Al Babao and former ARMM Assymblyman Alhabsi Hassan.

Assymblyman Alhabsi who is also known as “Adung” to his schoolmates at Panglima Indanan Central Elementary School in Indanan, Sulu was the anchorman of the MNLF’s Suara (Voice) of Malaysia, a clandestine Radio Station that can be tuned in from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. The Radio Station became also the source of inspiration of the Mujahideen where it has boosted the morale of the Moro Freedom Fighters at the height of the revolution against the Armed Forces of the Philippines. JIJ