ISABELA CITY, Basilan: Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. looked on as Lt.Col. John Ferdinand Lazo, commanding officer of the 64th Infantry Battalion, and Commander Huram Malangka of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) shook hands and embraced each other. Both men agreed to closely coordinate and maximize existing peace mechanisms to avoid the outbreak of hostilities and protect Basilan from lawless elements.

'What happened in Ungkaya Pukan is very unfortunate,' said Galvez during a peace dialogue on Monday. He was referring to the three-day firefight between government troops and MILF-BIAF forces in Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan.