COTABATO CITY — Local executives in Maguindanao del Norte vowed to strengthen their united campaign against illegal drugs as the province continues to brand itself as a “new investment hub” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Participants to the Peace and Order and Public Safety Cluster Meeting for the last quarter of 2025, held Thursday, December 11, in Cotabato City raised the need for a united front as one of the key points discussed during the meeting.
The meeting was jointly presided over by Maguindanao del Norte Governor Tucao Ong Mastura and Vice Governor Marshall Ibrahim Sinsuat.
Also present were the province’s lone congressional representative, Dimple Mastura, and several municipal mayors — including Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Raida Tomawis-Sinsuat, who leads what security forces describe as the most peaceful municipality in the province.
The Police Regional Office–BARMM and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division have recognized Datu Blah Sinsuat — composed of 13 beachfront barangays — as the most peaceful town in Maguindanao del Norte, which is among BARMM’s five provinces. The town has recorded zero heinous crimes in the past decade.
Regional police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–BARMM have likewise affirmed that no shabu or marijuana trade exists in the municipality.
Officials from PDEA-BARMM, the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Police Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the 6th Infantry Division, and the 1st Marine Brigade attended the meeting. Several of them offered recommendations to further expand multi-sector cooperation in support of the peace and security programs of Mastura and Sinsuat.
In separate statements after the meeting, Mastura and Sinsuat — running mates in the May 12, 2025 elections — reiterated their commitment to sustained, intensified efforts to eliminate the remaining drug dealers in the province.
Business sector signals full support
The province’s anti-drug and peace and security drive has drawn backing from the business community. Lawyer Ronald Hallid Dimacisil Torres, chair of the influential Bangsamoro Business Council (BBC), said the organization stands firmly behind the provincial leadership’s programs.
Torres said broad public support is critical to the success of the socio-economic, peace and security, and humanitarian initiatives of Mastura and Sinsuat. The BBC has members across all five provinces and three cities in BARMM.
Members of the Cotabato City Chinese business community also conveyed similar messages of support through text messages sent to reporters.
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