4 March 2020 | An interfaith effort to end the communist armed conflict in the southern Philippines was supported by the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. The Philippine Information Agency reported that Islamic, Catholic, Adventist and other religious groups sent leaders to support the initiative.

The religious leaders discussed the role of religious groups in the government’s Whole of Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s Sectoral Unification and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

The discussion took place at the Kalinaw (Peace) Building of the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion in the Bayugan City area of the southern island of Mindanao.

The leaders were briefed on the Whole of Nation Approach to ending the armed conflict. The approach is focused on peaceful and community development-focused efforts to persuade rebel groups to lay down arms and rejoin society.

First Lieutenant Krisjuper Andreo J. Punsalan, 3SFBn Civil-Military Operations Officer, addressed the group. He asked religious leaders to encourage values formation and spirituality. The officer also stressed the need to specifically promote family values and reunification in communities while guarding youth ministries from being infiltrated by communist groups.

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