ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has welcomed the move of the Tawi-Tawi provincial government to declare the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as persona non grata in the province.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Westmincom chief, said Saturday the persona non grata declaration, which is through a unified resolution, is a good development in the campaign to sustain the peace and order in Tawi-Tawi.
“We fully support the unified declaration made by our fellow peace advocates. We assure you that our anti-terrorism and anti-criminality campaigns are bolstered in cooperation with the local government units, and our partners and stakeholders in the area,” Vinluan added.
The declaration was made through a resolution adopted during the first quarter joint meeting last Friday of the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
The joint meeting echoed the same sentiments raised during the 1st Quarter Joint Provincial Health Board and Provincial School Board Meeting at the Henry Kong Hall of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, Bongao.
The resolution said the Abu Sayyaf and all lawless armed groups have no place in the 11 municipalities of Tawi-Tawi.
The joint meeting was presided over by Gov. Yshmael Sali and was participated in by the local chief executives of Tawi-Tawi; Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi and 2nd Marine Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas; Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office deputy director Police Major Abrurakib Ahmad; and representatives from all concerned agencies.