Galvez said the Maute remnants under Abu Dar will have a hard time recruiting members because mechanisms have been put in place at the local level to help prevent violent extremism.
He referred to the dialogues and coordination they have conducted with Muslim religious leaders and local officials.
Galvez cited their efforts in “diplomatic mentoring” which involves talking with local chief executives and in settling cases of ‘rido’ (clan feuds).
“Diplomatic mentoring is moral suasion for them to do what is morally right and what is good for their people… to respect rule of law and exercise their leadership to govern and promote the welfare of their people,” Galvez told MindaNews.
“Indirect disarming or voluntary surrender of firearms is just one consequential outcome of our broad diplomatic strategies,” he said.
Last Friday, Mayor Anton Burahan of Pata Island in Sulu surrendered a cache of weapons and ammunition to Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu.
The mayor surrendered 81MM mortar tubes; a 90 RR crew-served weapon; a barrel of caliber .50 MG; four M16 rifles; three M14 rifles; five Garand rifles; an M79 grenade launcher and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.[]
A ‘rido’ settlement in Lanao del Sur also yielded several firearms from erstwhile warring clans.[]
