July 2010 Philippines Project

In July 2010 the new Aquino administration in the Philippines signalled its desire to continue with the peace talks.  To this end President Aquino chose Marvic Leonen, the dean of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines, to head the government peace panel. The NGO community, peace advocates, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomed him because of his specialised knowledge in land tenure and other rights of Filipino minorities.

While there were no reported incidents this month of clashes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the MILF in the areas where Nonviolent Peaceforce operates, there were numerous reported incidences involving warring clans in some MILF areas exacerbating civilian vulnerabilities as summarized below.

In MAGUINDANAO, there has been compliance by the AFP and MILF in regards to the suspension of military operations, but owing to continuing ridos (or clan warfare) there is ongoing and sporadic fighting, resulting in a number of civilian deaths, the burning of houses, and continued displacements of civilians.  NPP has met with MILF and the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), in close coordination with the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team[j1]  (IMT), to ascertain whether an NPP intervention would be welcome in these areas. 

In LANAO, violent incidents and criminality were on the rise resulting in the government’s deployment of the military in one volatile area, Iligan city. To the south, the killing of Commander Delta and the safe return of the Election Commissioner’s kidnapped son seemed to calm tensions and a curfew, previously imposed due to widespread criminality, was lifted in Marawi city. NORTH COTABATO also saw an increase in criminal activity and rido-related clashes. In SULU and BASILAN, the security situation in both provinces is still unstable, characterised by the prevalence of kidnap for ransom gangs.

II. The Work of the NP Field Teams

In July, all NPP field teams were given two days training on the process and design of identifying and executing an NP intervention.   This was followed by two days training specially designed for all the old and new Field Coordinators. Overall, the peacekeeping work of NP teams in the Philippines, including the provision of proactive presence in vulnerable communities and protective accompaniment to partners and peace and human rights activists, is accomplished under four broad objectives and key activities, summarised below for July.

Objective 1: To increase protection of children and civilians, especially IDPS and local peace and human rights activists from conflict affected areas

The NORTH COTABATO Field Team provided proactive presence through regular patrolling in two Barangays in Pikit, three in Midsayap, two Barangays in Aleosan, and one in Alamada.  The team also visited an IDP camp in Pigkawayan to assess the civilian situation. The team attended, along with United Youth for Peace and Development and the Asia Foundation, the signing of a peace covenant between two families involved in rido or clan warfare.

The MAGUINDANAO Field Team worked closely with the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to monitor the conflicts wrought by rido within their area of operation. The team’s acceptance is strong as was underscored by their presence in critical communities at critical times throughout July. The team enjoys clearance from  security structures on the ground to enter hotspots and critical areas. For example, in the aftermath of a bomb explosion in early July, the team was shuttling between meeting the family, visiting the site of the explosion and talking with the police and military.

The Team also visited two interior barangays of Datu Piang. Concerns about food supplies, livelihood programs, and medical cases were raised, with referrals made to other appropriate humanitarian agencies. The Team also provided proactive presence through patrolling in a number of interior Barangays and in other rido conflict affected areas. During these visits the team assessed the needs of returned IDPs. Outputs of these assessments were shared with the Mindanao Humanitarian Team, which is coordinated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

In LANAO provinces, the team met with various local partners, community leaders, academe, AFP and MILF to increase and enhance NPP’s visibility and legitimacy. The most significant meeting in July was held with the Mayor of Kolambugan, who expressed support for NPP’s work.

In SULU and BASILAN, the Teams are still low profile due to the security situation and absence of International Civilian Peacekeepers. The national staff mainly provide minimal proactive presence and monitoring.

OBJECTIVE 2: To strengthen human rights reporting mechanisms in remote conflict areas

Through their local partners, NPP Teams in the field monitored human rights violations and abuses, and continued their support for the establishment and capacity building of community based human rights structures.

In NORTH COTABATO, a 4-day series of community based basic human rights training programs were conducted in July in Barangays Takepan, Daligaoen, Dunguan, and Dualing. The Team was invited by Action Against Hunger (ACF) to facilitate this series of training programs, which had been organized for beneficiaries of their livelihood program in the Barangays of Aleoson and Pikit municipalities.

In MAGUINDANAO, over seven documented cases of clan warfare (rido) continued to affect the human rights situation of the province with six flaring up into bouts of violence causing renewed displacements.  In addition, this complicated the returns process by sowing fear and insecurity among IDPs and the general populace.

In SULU AND BASILAN, seven cases of human rights violations and abuses were documented. Amongst the seven were three murders, including that of a previously kidnapped agrarian reform cooperative employee along with two other locals. The killings were said to be due to non-payment of ransom demanded by the abductors.

OBJECTIVE 3: To localise grassroots conflicts in their early stages so that they are resolved through dialogue at the lowest level and do not escalate into larger crises and thereby aiding in the maintenance/resuming of the ceasefire(s).

While there were no major Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) interventions in July, the main office in Cotabato has been developing an EWER training to be given to the field sites in August.

In addition, the North Cotabato Field Team monitored early warning indicators with its partners, the authorities and some individuals from a community made vulnerable due to incipient rido tensions.

Because NPP has no mandate on rido cases, it is challenging for field teams to intervene when early warning indicators are clearly linked to rido.

OBJECTIVE 4: To increase cross-community/cross-religious collaboration of locally based people’s organisations and peace/human rights advocates

The NORTH COTABATO field team continued to work with its partner, Oblates of Mary Immaculate Inter-religious Dialogue (OMI-IRD), in supporting community inter-Faith meetings in two Barangays to help bridge conflictual issues between and among the residents of those communities.  Activities included supporting an interfaith dialogue at the Barangay Hall with 20 members from different communities.  Members of the MAGUINDANAO Field Team were busy throughout the month preparing for their much-anticipated community forum to be held in early August.

III. The Civilian Protection Component (CPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) 

NPP’s CPC program became operational in late July.  There are now three CPC field team leaders working in field sites in North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao.  In addition, one International Civilian Peacekeeper and one National Civilian Peacekeeper, in each site, including one from each of the two Lanao provinces, has been assigned to assist in CPC activities. 

In the first week of July, CPC members, excluding the International Monitoring Team (IMT), met at NPP’s office and discussed field site arrangements, social marketing, and the structure for the common secretariat.  There were eight participants from four different organisations.

The following week, a meeting with the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), the MILF-CCCH, the IMT head of mission and CPC members met to discuss CPC’s future plans.  It was agreed that sound documentation was needed to guide coordination and collaboration of CPC members at all levels. This includes streamlining clear reporting mechanisms for all CPC members.

The problem of rido-related violence was also addressed and updates on the situation resulting in ongoing displacements in Maguindanao province were given.

Later in the month, a meeting took place at NPP’s training center in Cotabato City with all four CPC member organisations, including NPP, and the European Union (EU) Ambassador.  The ambassador was particulary interested in the problem of rido-related violence and how this affected the situation of IDPs.

CONCLUSION

July has not seen any non-compliance of the Suspension of Military Operations and the Suspension of Military Actions.  However, the problem of rido is an ongoing issue of concern.  It is not covered by the CPC mandate but has grave implications for civilian protection issues.  July also saw NPP strengthen its role as a CPC member. The Cotabato team participated in 7 different activities including organising and hosting a round-table meeting with the EU Ambassador and relevant local NGOs and INGOs..

There were regular communications with the IMT and other relevant peace structures. The relationship with the IMT is strong and is informed by a spirit of collaboration. While the leadership of the MILF and civil society groups in Mindanao are encouraged about the peace process, they continue to highlight what they see as potential roadblocks to peace–namely the Memorandum of Understanding on Ancestral Domain. The new national administration’s capacity and political will to move the peace process forward may be tested in the coming months.