PEACE AT LAST Civilian and military officials led by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. (eighth from left) release 15 doves as symbols of peace as Basilan province is declared free from the presence of Abu Sayyaf on Monday. 鈥擫eah Agonoy
LAMITAN CITY, BASILAN, Philippines 鈥� The island province of Basilan is now officially free from the threat and presence of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), a notorious terror organization engaged in banditry and kidnap-for-ransom activities.
Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. led the declaration at the Basilan Government Center (BGC) here on Monday, along with local and military officials.
Lagdameo said the declaration 鈥渨as not made lightly but was built from years of sustained operations, intelligence works and collaboration with different sectors and agencies and of the communities who refused to surrender to terror.鈥�
He said many individuals have sacrificed for Basilan鈥檚 freedom, referring to the 鈥渇allen soldiers, law enforcement officers and innocent civilians,鈥� who offered their lives in the face of terror.
鈥淭heir sacrifice shall never be forgotten,鈥� he said.
READ: In Basilan, 2 dead as MILF fighters ambush soldiers
He lauded the people of Basilan for choosing peace, saying, 鈥淵ou opened doors for reintegration, for healing and for rebuilding lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou reminded the nation that terrorism cannot thrive where communities are strong, vigilant and empowered.鈥�
Repairing damage
Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Hataman Salliman said that since his first term in 2016, many lives, 鈥渆fforts and resources were sacrificed鈥� to remove the presence of ASG, which started as an Islamic fundamentalist group but later became known for banditry that had used the province as its base.
He said he placed on top of his priority both in the municipal and provincial level programs on how to repair the damages done by the ASG.
He also admitted that in 2014, Basilan was the capital of the Islamic State for Israel and Syria (ISIS) in Southeast Asia, and was known then for ASG kidnappings and 鈥渂ombs which exploded in planes, bus, trains may have come from Basilan.鈥�
Among its atrocities included the mass kidnapping in March 2020 of 52 students and teachers from the Tumahubong Elementary School and Claret School in Sumisip town. Among the victims, Catholic priest Fr. Rhoel Gallardo and three teachers, were found dead in May 2000.
The group, which also operates in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, was also responsible for the abduction of foreigners, including the kidnapping of guests of Dos Palmas resort in Palawan in May 2001 that resulted to the death of several of the victims, including American missionary Martin Burnham.Salliman said the declaration of Basilan as ASG-free showed what Basilan is now compared to the past.
鈥淭hat manifests in different forms of development,鈥� he added.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Papru) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that they would be giving recognition to Salliman on his peace efforts in the province of Basilan through the Gawad Kapayapaan ( GaKap) Award.
Papru鈥檚 GaKap celebrates and honors the invaluable and impactful contributions of 鈥減eace exemplars鈥� or organizations towards the promotion and attainment of just and lasting peace in the country.
A total of 329 high-powered firearms earlier surrendered to the military by reformed Abu Sayyaf members were destroyed during the ceremony before the unveiling of a peace marker. /cb