By Nur-Ali A. Macabalang

COTABATO CITY – An all-female team from Sulu has bagged the top slot in the “Quest for the Bangsamoro Peace Champion 2022” of the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), even as it pledged its P100,000 cash prize to widows in their community.

The Gagandilan (warrior) Mindanao Women Inc. (GMWI) bested other competitors in the search cum tilt organized by the MPOS in pursuit of promoting peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), it was learned.

During the awarding ceremony on October 11 at the Pagana Hall here, GMWI president Wahida Abdulla received the grand champion trophy and one hundred thousand-peso cash prize, which she committed to benefit widows in Sulu.

“Itong napanalunan ko po ay ibibigay ko sa mga balo (widows) pandagdag sa puhunan nila at pantustos din sa mga anak nila sa pang araw-araw na gastusin,” Abdulla was quoted as saying in a press statement from the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO).

Abdulla added: “Sobrang saya ko dahil itinanghal kaming champions; ang hirap at pawis na pinaghirapan ko at ng buong team namin ay nagbunga rin hindi lang dito sa mundo, pati na rin sa kabilang buhay.”

GMWI is a non-government organization (NGO) engaging with vulnerable women, widows, and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) returnees from Sulu, the BIO said. 

According to Abdulla, more than 300 ASG members have so far returned to the folds of the law, and there are many more returnees expected to follow suit because of the initiatives of the Bangsamoro Government and its close cooperation with the local government units and other stakeholders.

The BIO said MPOS Minister Hussein Muñoz described the regional quest as part of his ministry’s strides to inspire residents and value their contributions to peace-building efforts in the Bangsamoro region.

“May you continue to be a beacon in unifying the Bangsamoro and be a motivation to (others in) your communities so that they may emulate you. With that, we may be able to sustain peace and harmony in the BARMM,” the BIO quoted Muñoz as telling the quest participants.

Other participant-awardees were Razul Pandulo from Maguindanao, Jamal Baulo and Benladen Macarampat from Lanao del Sur, and Conie Dumato from the Special Geographic Areas (SGA). Each of them received P50,000.00 cash prize, certificates and plaques during the event, the BIO said. (NAM)

(Attached BIO-supplied photos show the grand champ team leader Wahida Abdulla beaming in receipt of the cash prize in check, certificate and a plaque from  MPOS Minister Hussein Muñoz (left); and all quest winning participants a pose.)