Different officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, paid a courtesy visit to Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman and Deputy Speaker and Basilan Lone District Representative Mujiv Hataman, September 7. The main purpose of the visit was to discuss the upcoming joint activity on the declaration of Isabela City as ASG-free.
The officials present in the meeting include the following: BGEN Leonardo Peña PA, Commander, Joint Task Force ORION; BGEN Alvin Luzon PA – Commander, Joint Task Group Basilan, JTFO/ Commander, 101st Infantry Brigade, 1ID, PA; COL Frederick Sales MNSA (INF) PA, Deputy Brigade Commander, 101Bde, 1ID, PA; LTC Jose Andre Monje GSC (INF) PA, Bde Executive Officer, 101Bde, 1ID, PA; LTC Michael Colanta INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 45IB, 11ID, PA; LTC Adolf Ian Garceron INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 4SFBn, SFR(A), PA; LTC Mark Serapion Lagud Jr INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 18IB, 1ID, PA; LTC Vicente Mabborang Jr GSC (INF) PA, AC of S Operations, JTF ORION; LTC Edmond Lanzar INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 32IB, 11ID, PA; LTC Roldan Mira INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 6SFBn, SFR(A), PA; MAJ Wilson Galanta (INF) PA, Security Officer; and SMS Bernard Navarro PA, Division Sergeant Major, 11ID, PA.
Although Isabela City has long been considered as a peaceful city in the Province of Basilan with the absence of terrorist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf, there is no formal or official declaration yet that it is an ASG-free city.
Meanwhile, during his stint as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor, Rep. Hataman was able to convince hundreds of ASGs to surrender and be re-integrated to their communities as peaceful Basileños under the Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) for Peace in 2018, a holistic approach program that seeks to end violent extremism and bring about peace in the ARMM region. The fromer ARMM Governor, through PAVE, aimed at preventing returnees from going back to terror acts and providing them opportunities to start anew. The program in partnership with Nagdilaab Foundation, different LGUs and the security forces, has recorded the highest number of ASG members to surrender for healing and increasing grassroots support in countering violent extremism.
This has also largely contributed to replace the negative image of Basilan as a breeding ground of ASGs to a peaceful tourism destination. In 2023, Isabela City alone has recorded more than 400 thousand visitors as reported by its City Tourism Office.
Basilan District 1 Board Member Ahmed Ibn Djaliv Hataman was also present to help welcome the various AFP officials to Isabela City. (Photos by M. Santos, CIO)
