WestMinCom holds information campaign of the MNLF transformation program

By Julmunir I. Jannaral

**OPAPP MEETS WESTMINCOM:** Brig. Gen. Buenaventura Pascual (Ret.) sitting at left of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) who is also the chairman of the Community Healing and Reconciliation Sub-Committee discusses an information, education, and communications campaign for the MNLF with WestMinCom Commander Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr. at Laong Laan Hall of the command. *CONTRIBUTED PHOTO*

COTABATO CITY — The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) facilitated the conduct of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign held at the conference room located at Camp Navarro, Calarian, in Zamboanga City last Friday, November 19.

It was a pre-implementation activity of the transformation program for the members of the MNLF, their families, and their communities.

WestMinCom Commander Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr. on Sunday said the purpose of the IEC campaign is to orient military and police officials in the implementing arrangements and mechanisms of the program.

In his message, Maj. Gen. Rosario, Jr. encouraged the participants to give their full support to the transformation program. “Let us set aside our indifference in order to bring peace and order to our people,” he said.

He also assured that WestMinCom will actively participate in the upcoming activities of the transformation program. “We recognize that more than military actions, there is an underlying need to employ programs that will support the peaceful resolutions to put an end to the menaces of society,” Maj. Gen. Rosario, Jr. stated.

The IEC campaign was spearheaded by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) through the team from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) led by Brig. Gen. Buenaventura Pascual (Ret.), Chairman of the Community Healing and Reconciliation Sub-Committee. In attendance during the campaign were military and police officials.

According to Brig. Gen. Pascual, the transformation program includes all the government’s initiatives, projects, and other developmental activities such as socio-economic, community healing and reconciliation, and security and confidence-building measures that would be implemented in the identified MNLF communities.

“We steadfastly commit to helping uplift the lives of our returning brothers and sisters and their families through interventions that would be carried out by the OPAPP and its partner agencies,” Brig. Gen. Pascual said.

Meanwhile, prior to the conduct of the IEC campaign, the retired 1-star general paid a courtesy call on the WestMinCom Commander at the Laong Laan Hall of the command.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Deputy Commander for Administration; Col. Randolph Rojas, Commander of Joint Task Force Zamboanga; and the Command Staff joined Maj. Gen. Rosario, Jr. in welcoming the distinguished visitor. JIJ