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SULU Governor Abdusakur Tan and Major General William Gonzales, Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu, spearheaded the signing of a peace pact declaring the Abu Sayyaf bandits persona non grata in a old deserted village in Patikul, in the province.
Tan and Gonzales led the charge when they announced on Friday, November 20, 2020, the return of 206 families who fled their homes in Kabbon Takas village, Patikul, four years ago due to atrocities committed by the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Lt. Jerrica Angela Manongdo, information officer for JTF Sulu, said the return of displaced families was made possible by the Balik Barangay Program initiated by the governor’s office in partnership with JTF Sulu.
Manongdo said that the peace pact was signed by key officials to include members of the Patikul Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) and officials from the village of Kabbon Takas.
Ahajuli Ahajani, President of Kabbon Takas Village, has expressed his gratitude on behalf of the residents for the efforts made by Tan and Gonzales.
“We evacuated three times. We are always forced to leave because of the atrocities committed by Abu Sayyaf. We are grateful to be able to return. Residents are optimistic that we will settle here permanently, ”Ahajani said.
Tan facilitated the provision of the families’ basic needs, such as roofing materials for the reconstruction of their shelters, food packages, bags of rice, footwear and P5,000 for each of the 206 families.
Tan stressed that meeting basic needs was made possible through the concerted efforts of various offices.
“It is not just the governor’s office, the armed forces but all agencies, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We asked their regional office to put a housing project in Kabbon Takas, ”Tan said.
Manongdo said the 54th Engineering Battalion led by Lt. Col. Alvin Tanguilig built a water system and public toilets for the residents of Kabbon Takas.
Gonzales has tasked the 1102nd Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Ignatius Patrimonio with overseeing the establishment of the 6th Special Forces Battalion patrol base to protect the community from the Abu Sayyaf bandits. (SunStar Zamboanga)
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