By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government has called for a security summit amid the bloody firefights between government forces and lawless elements in Mindanao.
Provincial Planning Officer Ma. Lina Sanogal said the Provincial Capitol called the summit out of fears a “spillover” of violence will enter the province.
She explained, the summit aims to bring together academics, Islamic and Christian leaders from Mindanao, and policy makers.
The provincial official said the body would be comprised of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), and Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).
Sanogal noted, she still had to confirm the schedule of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., but speculated meetings would commence between the second and third week of July.
“It will not be a strictly peace and security summit,” the provincial official said. “It will also be aimed to understand the face of Islamic extremism.”
Sanogal said many local residents “look differently at Muslims and develop biases against them” and believes it is time “our people understand our brothers in Mindanao.”
Among those invited as resource speakers for the summit include Professor Julkipli Wadi, Dean of the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines; an archbishop from Mindanao; and a Muslim working with a Christian group.
“They will be invited so they could share their perspective on the Mindanao problem,” said Sanogal.
Earlier, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major General Jon Aying, suggested a security task force be setup down to the barangay level./WDJ