PANDAMI, Sulu — The Municipality of Pandami marked a historic milestone in its peace journey on September 6, 2026, as it was formally declared a Rido-Free, Gun-Free, and Peace-Centered Community (RFGFPCC) and placed under a State of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS)—a development reinforced by the voluntary turnover of a 60mm mortar to government security forces on the same day.
The twin developments underscored Pandami’s continuing efforts to move away from armed conflict, reduce the presence of loose firearms and strengthen community-based mechanisms for maintaining peace and resolving disputes without violence.
The declaration was highlighted by the formal turnover of the crew-served weapon by Mayor Nurhan S. Berto at the Municipal Hall in Barangay Hambilan. Lt. Col. Roy R. Dalumpines, commanding officer of the 104th Infantry Battalion, identified the weapon as a 60mm mortar.
The voluntary handover provided a tangible demonstration of the local government’s commitment to protecting the peace gains that paved the way for Pandami’s historic RFGFPCC and SIPS declaration.
For local officials and security forces, the timing of the surrender carried particular significance: on the day Pandami formally celebrated its transition toward a more peaceful and stable community, a potentially dangerous weapon was voluntarily removed from the community and placed under government custody.
Lt. Col. Dalumpines commended Mayor Berto and the Pandami municipal government for translating their peace commitments into concrete action.
“The voluntary handover of this crew-served weapon on this historic day sends a strong message that Pandami is serious about protecting the peace it has achieved. Mayor Berto and the LGU have demonstrated that the declaration is not merely symbolic, but is backed by concrete actions to keep loose firearms out of the community,” Dalumpines said.
He attributed Pandami’s achievement to sustained cooperation among the local government, security forces, community leaders and residents, while recognizing Mayor Berto’s leadership in bringing different sectors together behind the municipality’s peace campaign.
“Today’s declaration is a testament to the leadership of Mayor Nurhan Berto and the commitment of the people of Pandami. The LGU has demonstrated that when local leaders take ownership of peace and the community stands behind them, we can achieve meaningful and sustainable results,” Dalumpines said.
Dalumpines also recognized the support of the Provincial Government of Sulu and Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan in strengthening peace initiatives at the municipal level.
“The support of Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan and the Provincial Government has been important in reinforcing the efforts of our municipalities. What we are witnessing in Pandami demonstrates what can be achieved when the provincial and municipal governments, the security sector, and the people move together toward one goal,” he added.
The milestone was marked by the participation of provincial, municipal and security officials, including Governor Abdusakur “Totoh” A. Tan II and Vice Governor Abdusakur M. Tan, who were cited for their continuing support for locally driven peace initiatives in Sulu.
Also present during the occasion were Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Rey Ga, assistant division commander of the 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division; Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino P. Delos Santos, commander of the 1102th Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade; Lt. Col. Dalumpines; PCpt. Rizhard L. Julkarnain, chief of police of Pandami; Vice Mayor Mohammad Emsal Pulahong; members of the Sangguniang Bayan; and representatives from various sectors of the community.
Brig. Gen. Delos Santos likewise credited the milestone to the combined efforts of the local government, provincial government, security sector and the people of Pandami.
“This milestone would not have been possible without the leadership of Mayor Nurhan Berto, the support of Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan and the Provincial Government, and most importantly, the cooperation of the people of Pandami. Their commitment demonstrates that lasting peace is strongest when it is led by the LGU, supported by the security sector, and embraced by the community,” Delos Santos said.
He said the voluntary turnover of the mortar gave greater meaning to the municipality’s RFGFPCC and SIPS declaration by demonstrating that Pandami was not merely celebrating its peace gains but was also taking concrete measures to protect them.
“The turnover of this crew-served weapon gives greater meaning to Pandami’s declaration today. It demonstrates that the LGU and the community are not only celebrating what they have achieved, but are taking concrete steps to protect it,” Delos Santos said.
The brigade commander emphasized that the development reflected the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade’s continuing approach to peacebuilding: LGU-led, security-sector-supported and community-based.
According to Delos Santos, sustainable peace ultimately depends on communities taking ownership of the conditions that allow peace to endure.
“Peace becomes sustainable when the LGU and the people take ownership of it. The security forces will continue to support them, but ultimately, it is the community’s determination to reject violence, resolve disputes peacefully, and keep loose firearms out of their communities that will preserve these gains for the next generation,” he said.
Delos Santos also described the milestone as part of his continuing commitment to sustaining the hard-earned peace in Sulu and ensuring that succeeding generations inherit communities where they can live and pursue their aspirations without fear.
“As a Brigade Commander, it has always been my dream to help sustain the hard-earned peace in Sulu so that the next generation will inherit communities where they can live, study, work, and raise their families without fear. Our challenge now is to protect what Pandami has achieved and make sure that this peace endures,” he added.
Mayor Berto’s administration has worked with community leaders, security forces and other stakeholders to address local sources of conflict, curb the proliferation of loose firearms and strengthen community participation in protecting peace.
The turnover of the 60mm mortar formed part of this broader effort to reduce the presence of weapons that could potentially be used in rido and other forms of armed violence.
The occasion also featured the unveiling of an RFGFPCC signage and the signing of a commitment by the local government and community representatives, symbolizing their shared responsibility to preserve Pandami’s peace gains.
The municipality’s RFGFPCC and SIPS declarations therefore go beyond recognition of its present security situation. They also establish a continuing responsibility for local leaders, residents and institutions to prevent the conditions that could allow violence and armed conflict to return.
For the 104th Infantry Battalion, continued coordination with the Pandami LGU, Philippine National Police, community leaders and other stakeholders will remain essential in maintaining the conditions that enabled the municipality to achieve its peace milestone.
The Provincial Government of Sulu, meanwhile, continues to be cited as an important partner in strengthening locally driven peace initiatives and cooperation between municipal governments, communities and the security sector.
Pandami’s achievement forms part of a broader peace transformation taking place across Sulu, where local government leadership, community participation and sustained engagement with security forces are helping strengthen the foundations for stability and development.
The municipality’s historic declaration also comes with a challenge: maintaining peace after achieving it.
The voluntary turnover of the 60mm mortar on the very day Pandami was declared Rido-Free, Gun-Free and Peace-Centered offered a powerful illustration of that responsibility. The declaration recognizes the peace the municipality has achieved; the surrender of the weapon demonstrated a concrete willingness to protect it.
For the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade, the milestone reinforces a fundamental principle of its peace campaign—that lasting peace cannot be imposed by security forces alone. It must be led by local governments, supported by the security sector and embraced by the communities themselves.
Pandami’s September 6 milestone is therefore both a recognition and a commitment: a recognition of the peace and stability achieved through collective action, and a commitment to ensure that loose firearms, rido and armed violence do not undermine those gains.
As Pandami moves forward under its RFGFPCC and SIPS status, the responsibility now shifts toward sustaining what has been achieved—so that the municipality’s peace journey becomes not simply a declaration made on one historic day, but a lasting foundation for security, development and opportunity for generations to come.