Gov’t, MILF activate joint peacekeeping force in Lanao del Norte town

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Philippines — A 30-member Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) was recently deployed in a former Moro rebel stronghold in Lanao del Norte province to help maintain peace and stability in the area.

Winston Camariñas, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Cotabato field office, said the JPST station in Barangay Panggao of Munai town was turned over late last month to the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC), a body involved in coordinating the security component of the normalization process and has command over JPST.

JPSTs are peacekeeping forces composed of contingents from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. The Munai station was built with aid from the Japanese government and the UNDP.

Munai was the main camp of the MILF group led by Abdullah Macapaar, popularly known as Commander Bravo, who is now a member of the Bangsamoro parliament.

Macapaar welcomed the JPST station in his town. —Bong S. Sarmiento