Sulu, once considered a primary stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group, was officially declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security status during ceremonies held in the municipality of Patikul.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. presided over the milestone declaration alongside high-ranking military officers, police officials and local leaders at the Patikul town gymnasium.
“This is the greatest gift parents can give to our children and grandchildren,” Teodoro remarked, emphasizing the profound impact of long-term security on the province’s youth.
Following the formal declaration, Teodoro joined local government executives and security personnel in signing a Pledge of Commitment designed to preserve peace gains across the province. He also led the unveiling of the Camp AKA marker at the 1102nd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Luuk, named in honor of the late former Luuk mayor Abdurahman K. Arbison.
Teodoro explained that following years of active counter-terrorism operations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is transitioning its primary mission in Sulu toward supporting sustainable development.
“Our struggle now is for the development and to maintain stable internal peace and security,” Teodoro stated.
The defense chief noted that while the military previously spearheaded security interventions, local government units and civilian line agencies will now take the lead in delivering social services and infrastructure projects, with the military assuming a supporting role.
“We were in the lead when there was security concern…Now, we will (play the support role), allowing other government agencies, including the local government, (to accomplish their mandate),” Teodoro explained.
Teodoro outlined two core responsibilities for military forces remaining in the area: collaborating with civilian authorities to maintain stability and acting as an operational and logistical hub for regional security and emergency response.
“Secondly, to serve as the logistical depot for sustainable operations in this area,” Teodoro noted, adding that robust military logistics will streamline disaster response and humanitarian aid delivery across neighboring island communities.
Acknowledging the community’s role in ending decades of armed conflict, Teodoro praised local residents for partnering with state forces to transform the province.
“We can now clearly see the divided after fighting for this (peace) for a long time,” Teodoro said, while urging local leaders and citizens to remain vigilant against security threats to protect their hard-won peace.