Reformation program for 214 former Sayyaf members launched in Basilan

By Teng Lauban Datu
Cotabato City Bureau Chief .

ISABELA City — A holistic program to help transform the lives of 214 former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was launched here recently in an effort to prevent and decisively address violent extremism in this island province and encourage active members of the group to return to the folds of the law.

Basilan Governor Hajiman Hataman Saliman said it is the mission of the local government to deny the ASG the chance to make the province as their stronghold again.

“I thank you for coming back and (joining) the mainstream society,” he told the former members of the ASG at the launching of the program inside the camp of the 4th Special Battalion in Kabunbata, Isabela City, Basilan.

“Let’s work together. Our experiences should lead us to not use and take up arms anymore,” he said in the vernacular.

“Let’s use our time now for peace building. The government is here to help,” he added.

The program was conceptualized as members of the terror group have begun to turn themselves in following continuing pressure from the military operations, and strong intervention coming from the local government and religious groups as the threat of violent extremism has taken root in some parts of Mindanao.

The Prevention and Transformation of Violent Extremist program was crafted when Mujiv Hataman, the former regional governor of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), invited the non-government organization Balay Mindanaw to come up with a holistic program to help the returnees integrate into mainstream society.

The reintegration planning was then extended to other sectors such as the military and non-government organizations in the island province

From 2017 to January 2018, a series of interventions were initially given to 86 former members of ASG. The group underwent an exposure tour program in Cagayan de Oro City.

From its success, the regional government of the former Armm, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Balay Mindanaw felt the need to improve and expand the initiative, leading to the creation of a Disengagement Program for Former Local Terrorists.

The program aims to provide a platform for a comprehensive reformation for former extremists who decided to return to the folds of the law.  It will also develop a template that will guide the crafting of regional and national policies for reformation which will benefit provinces which are confronting the problems of violent extremism.  (with reports from opapp)