Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, the newly-appointed chairperson of the Western Visayas Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), has enjoined the local councils to continue supporting the peace advocacies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Lacson, who thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for choosing him to lead the council, made the call as he convened the RPOC-6 for its first quarter meeting at the District 21 Hotel in Iloilo City on Tuesday, March 21.
“To all the local POCs, let us continue to support our AFP and police forces in their peace advocacies. And in extending our invitation for reintegration to all our brothers and sisters in conflict with the government, it is not enough to just open the doors of peace. We, in the government, must extend our hand farther to usher and uplift not just the returnees, but also those affected by the conflict,” he said in his message.
He added that the efforts of those in the government must include the provision of enabling and capacitating mechanisms, and everyone must be included in the process for the attainment of the common goals for peace and progress.
“This will be the start of a better understanding between all sectors and of limiting the discord,” he said.
Lacson said the creation of POCs is “a recognition of the fact that by promoting participatory governance and active participation of all sectors in the pursuit of the country’s peace agenda,” the rifts that divide the nation and the roots of conflicts would be addressed.
“The best way to achieve this is to know from the people themselves, what they need and what we can do to help them. And this is exactly what we are tasked to do, since as a council, we have to ensure that issues and concerns raised by the sub-regional POCs will be duly addressed by the body or may be referred to the concerned member agencies,” he added.
In presiding over the meeting, Lacson was joined by DILG-6 Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero and Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6.
Discussed were the approval of resolutions reorganizing and expanding the membership of the RPOC-6 and updates on the insurgency and peace and order situation, anti-illegal drugs campaign, and other peace and public safety concerns in Western Visayas.*PNA