Fresh
from her oath taking last June 28, Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza
spearheaded the 1st North Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order
Council (PPOC) meeting at the Capitol Rooftop, Amas, Kidapawan City on July 3,
2013.
The meeting was highlighted with peace and order reports
from Philippine Army’s 602nd Brigade and Cotabato Police Provincial
Office.
According to 602nd Brigader General Ademar
Tomaro, members of the Philippine Army are always ready to respond to conflict
possibilities in the province, where 11 of its municipalities are under their
jurisdiction.
He also reported incidents of harassment in some villages
of Tulunan, Matalam, and Midsayap, emphasizing that the situation in Tulunan is
now ceased after Task Force Barko-barko was created in Barangay Maybula last
month.
Tomaro said, “people must feel free to provide
information to the authority.”
On the other hand, Police Senior Superintendent Danilo
Peralta, Police Director of the Cotabato Police Provincial Office presented the
crime index of the province.
Based on Peralta’s report, this year’s 1st
quarter has higher crime volume compared to the 2nd quarter in terms
of street, property, and physical crimes. This according to Peralta is
attributed to the successive operations conducted by their personnel.
Given this, Peralta still admits that the peace and order
situation in the province at the moment is unpredictable due to the presence of
various “threats” from other armed groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters (BIFF).
In general, both Tomaro and Peralta appealed for support
from the community.
Governor Taliño-Mendoza, meanwhile called for a strong
working relationship between the authorities and the local officials,
particularly to the Mayors present.
In attendance are 3rd District Congressman
Jose Tejada, 2nd District Board Member Noel Baynosa, 1st
District Board Member Kelie Muhammad U. Antao, the 16 out of 18 municipal
mayors in Cotabato Province, and representatives from Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
Department of Education (DepEd), and some organizations who have long been
partnering with the Provincial Government of Cotabato in creating peace and
conflict resolutions. //sgjh/pgo (with reports from Jimmy Sta. Cruz)
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