CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) successfully established a sovereignty marker in Panggungan Island, Brgy Datu Baguinda Puti, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, strengthening the country’s sovereign rights over its southernmost frontier.
The Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi / Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi / 2nd Marine Brigade under its Commander, Brigadier General Romero T Racadio PN(M) led the historic event on March 7, 2022. The establishment of the said landmark is one of the significant milestones in the province's history as it formally established its solid assertion of the area located at the southernmost frontier of the country's archipelago.
“Establishing a sovereignty marker in the island is a way of exercising the state's power in demonstrating its lawful ownership to its territory and all the inhabitants living in the said island. It is a way of imparting the residents' mindset of the equal entitlement of their right and protection as mandated in the Philippine Constitution,” said BGen Racadio.
The activity is the first of its kind in the area that was attended by almost 600 participants from the security, academe, local government units, government sectors under BARMM, and Provincial LGUs. Among the attendees was Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael "Mang" I. Sali, Al-haj.
"The provincial government of Tawi-Tawi will continue to support placing more sovereignty markers in isolated islands and further provide necessary assistance to the marginalized communities in the province," Governor Sali said.
Panggungan Island, locally known as Panguan or resting place, is the most remote island in the municipality of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, province. There are a total of 252 population of the Sama-Bajau tribe in the area with 108 children being educated by civilian volunteer teachers and 2nd Marine Brigade personnel.
An All-in-One Mission was also conducted benefiting the constituents of Panggungan. It included the distribution of food packs and relief goods; clean-up drive; coconut planting; and counseling sessions for Badjao women, youth, and elders.
Other activities include the inauguration of the newly constructed multi-purpose hall donated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to the Jade's Badjao Learning Center, INc. (JBLCI) privately administered by philanthropists couple Mr. Ely and "inday" Erana.
The activity was highlighted by the flag-raising ceremony and the historic unveiling of the Panggungan Sovereignty Marker where the attendees collectively raised and waved flaglets while joyfully voicing the word "Pilipino Ako!"
The mission was conducted in line with the thrust of the Commander, JTF-TT/NTG-TT/2MBde, to promote and sustain peace and development initiatives in the province. It focuses on inter-agency cooperation and partnerships that would address the root causes of armed conflict. /// (Photos from 2nd Marine Brigade)
