March 2011 Philippines Field Report

I. Highlights of the Month   

On 9 March, the North Cotabato Civilian Protection Component (CPC) Program team received reports regarding the presence of armed troops in both Aleosan and Pikit Municipalities, resulting in panic.  In fact, approximately 20 families had already fled and scores more were preparing to do so.  The team coordinated with both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCG) and found that the troop movements had been properly coordinated, and were not the precursor to an armed clash.  The team immediately informed the civilians of this, which calmed the situation and prevented further displacements.  There is an inescapable connection between displacement and the re-escalation of hostilities, or even rumours about the re-escalation of hostilities, case in point.  Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines’ field presence can act as a bridge between civilian communities and other actors thereby dispelling rumours and preventing displacement while at the same time creating new paths of communication.

After sustained support, training and coaching, the team’s partner, Magungaya Mindanao Inc. (MMI), on its own initiative, decided to prepare a Human Rights (HR) training module for the members of the Community Based Peace and Protection Council (CBPPC), in which MMI members, coached by Nonviolent Peaceforce, will act as the resource persons. They also took the initiative to invite the International Monitoring Team’s (IMT) Humanitarian Rehabilitation and Development contingent headed by the European Union [which addresses human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL)] to link the members of CBPPC with them. Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines is successfully helping to set up local structures to monitor and react to incidences of violence in remote conflict-affected communities.  Civilians, like members of the NPP-trained CBPPC, are not merely the beneficiaries of international efforts for protection.  They are protagonists in their own protection.  A field team’s efforts, therefore, should both complement and strengthen civil society’s capacity to develop its own strategies and structures for coping with violence.  This includes supporting local communities and organizations in mobilizing to promote protection activities. Disorganised and unsupported communities are much more vulnerable to violence whereas organized and supported communities are much more resilient.

 I. Context / Situation

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continued to observe the ceasefire. Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines (NPP), in particular towards civilians, recorded no serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL). Nonetheless, other forms of violence and criminal activity remained high.

Speculation still abounds regarding the formation of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters under Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander, Umbra Kato, and his possible official break with the MILF resulting in an atmosphere of general tension.  This development could bear upon the direction of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF scheduled for 27-28 April in Malaysia.

In Maguindanao, the month was marked by two incidents of displacement: in the first week fighting broke out in some south-western municipalities, in particular in Mangudadatu, which lasted for several days and displaced over 2000 families; and in the second week 180 families were displaced in Sultan Sa Barongis by sporadic firing.

In North Cotabato, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were displaced by a rido* in the ‘snakefish’ area in January 2011, started to return to Nangaan following an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) intervention, while IDPs are reluctant to return to Simoni due the precarious security situation. The majority of the IDPs from barangay Simone and Nangaan, Kabacan, have already returned to their places of origin.

The ongoing debates over the postponement of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections has divided the political community of Lanao Del Sur into two camps, pro and anti-postponement, thereby hardening political positions. Pre-election violence is emerging in forms of rido and other kinds of harassment. The registration process for the elections has commenced and is generating fear of massive violence that usually appears with electoral campaigns.

Kidnapping and cattle theft continue to bear upon the security situation negatively in the Lanao provinces.

In Basilan and Sulu, random firefights continued to take place between the AFP and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

In March a final draft of the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) Member Operational Guidelines was agreed on and will be endorsed by all CPC member organizations.

II. NPP WORKS: Conflict Prevention Programme (CPP)

Community Based Human Rights (CBHR) Program

In Maguindanao, the team supported the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), acting as representatives of the Protection Cluster, in updating them on the situation of Datu Piang’s schools and teachers, many of who were targeted in the run-up to, during and after the barangay elections of 25 October 2010.  The team also supported a number of human rights (HR) trainings and provided coachings in March. In order to cement the newly strengthened relationship with Kaduntaya foundation Inc. (KFI), the team participated in their IHL orientations in barangay Kalipapa and Dado (80 participants), barangay Masigay (80 participants), and barangay Ambadao (50 participants) all in Datu Piang. Two coaching’s were conducted for Magungaya Mindanao Inc. (MMI) on HR. First, for MMI point persons and management (6 participants) and then a second was conducted though only for the three point people wherein the team reviewed the utilization of situational analysis as a tool of training and field behaviour.

In North Cotabato, after conducting the preliminary organizational-level assessment with local partner United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD) in Midsayap, an initial plan was drafted by both the team and UNYPAD to develop an HR/Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Program Assessment and Baseline Consultation Workshop.  The assessment will gather qualitative data on actual ground activities conducted by past trainees, and the positive change brought to the community reporting mechanisms and response to HR and early warnings. New partners, Suara Kalilintad in Pagalungan, and GAP-Hunger Inc. in Pikit, expressed interest in implementing NPP’s Community Based Human Rights (CBHR) program in their areas of responsibility.

In Lanao del Norte, the Inter Partner Group completed the modules for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of both the ‘Awareness’ workshop, for barangay captains and monitors, and the ‘Skills Development’ workshop for monitors. This concluded the preparations for enabling CBHR structures in Kauswagan and Munai. The team expects a CBHR structure in which a total of 12 barangays, in the two municipalities, would have 36 monitors, skilled in monitoring human rights violations in these barangays, deployed. The barangay captains will also be included in the awareness-raising session, in order to strengthen support for the monitors and to create linkages with Barangay Human Rights Action Centres in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights.

In Lanao del Sur a consultation with the UNYPAD on CBHR structures in the municipality of Butig took place where a Partner Orientation Plan on CBHR Framework was drafted.

Early Warning Early Response Program

The team in Maguindanao focused on strengthening its partners’ EWER capacity and structures. The team organised coaching and conducted an EWER introduction for 60 people from Mamasapano planning to join the Community Based Peace and Protection Council (CBPPC). The team also organised two EWER coaching sessions (6 participants each) for MMI in which the challenges of monitoring and guaranteeing the safety of oneself and others were discussed. These coaching’s were training of trainers, by which the team is building the capacity of the point persons, to act as future trainers for CBPPC.

In North Cotabato, the team, as the main convener of the Composite Team meetings that bring together the majority of the locally based civil society organizations, convened two successful Composite Team meetings during March.  These brought together ten partners each time. Apart from this, the team conducted a series of visits and discussions with UNYPAD in Midsayap on the process of assessing the possibility of enhancing HR and EWER structures in the area. As a result of this initiative, both the team and UNYPAD agreed as planned to hold an HR/EWER Assessment and Baseline Consultation Workshop in each of the six identified barangays of Midsayap where most of the previous training recipients originated.  In addition, the Mayor of Alamada, expressed interest in working with NPP in his endeavour to establish peace programmes in his municipality as he is currently in the process of declaring the municipality a “Zone of Peace”.

In Lanao del Norte the team held a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/EWER forum with local partner, ECOWEB, in order to jointly map out an appropriate EWER strategy in Kolambugan. During this forum, it was jointly agreed that embedding EWER structures into existing DRR structures would enhance the scope and ownership of communities to manage both natural and man-made disasters. The agreement stipulates that as ECOWEB’s Unified Framework of Peace and Development, in collaboration and support from the LGU and Department of Agrarian Reform, is planned for all barangays in Kolambugan, their strategy to address issues on climate change, poverty reduction, women’s empowerment and participation would also include DRR/EWER strategy.

Dialogue Program

In Maguindanao, the Imam of Datu Piang, after consulting with the community, agreed to engage the local priest for the planned dialogue. The priest had already shown interest in this kind of activity. The two came together in a meeting that the team arranged for Kaduntaya Foundation Inc. (KFI) the local government unit (LGU) and the local business community.  On the request of KFI, the team is also extending support in providing presence during “walk for peace” in Datu Piang scheduled for 26 April 2011.

The North Cotabato team, in collaboration with two local partners, organized a successful dialogue between Muslim and Christian communities living in Barangay Dualing in Aleosan Municipality. The dialogue brought together six religious leaders from Muslim and Christian (Catholic and Baptist) communities, women leaders, the AFP’s 40th IB, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Barangay Captain of Dualing and several leaders of local community-based organizations and was attended by over 250 community members from both Christian and Muslim communities.

In Lanao del Sur, the team met with the President of the Mindanao Youth Forum (MYF) to discuss collaboration on dialogue and human rights. In light of the current debate springing from the postponement of the ARMM elections, MYF formally requested the team’s support in organizing a one-day youth forum to discuss the issue and the possible peace and security implications. 

III. NPP WORKS: Civilian Protection Programme Deliverables

Maguindanao

The team provided proactive presence in the province through 9 patrols covering Datu Piang, Pales, Baked, Datu Salbo, Guindulungan and Shariff Aguak, partly only accessible by boat. During the month under review the team received 19 alerts and pieces of information connected to the protection of civilians. The team monitored six and verified ten.

The team conducted a Community Orientation Forum at Kalipapa and Dado barangays of Datu Piang, together with NPP’s Conflict Prevention Program, the LGU, and a local partner organization. 70 participants attended.  In addition, the team conducted another Public Forum in the barangay Masigay, one of the interior barangays of Datu Piang.  Again, 70 participants attended.

On top of this, the team visited numerous evacuation centres and returnee communities to monitor their situation, including: Boolean, Panda, Datu Pales (2184 families); Pimbalakan, Mamasapano (250 returned families); Langgapanan, Pimbalayan, Pidtiguian [Lambayong municipality, Sultan Kudarat] (180 families); Tapikan, Shariff Aguak (1500 returned families); Lapok, Shariff Aguak (3150 returned families); Binandol and Dasawao, Midsayap (120 families); barangay Bialong, Shariff Aguak (750 returned families); barangay Kuloy, Shariff Aguak (700 returned families); Pidtiguian, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat Province (21 families); barangay Bakat (100 returned persons); barangay Malingao, Shariff Aguak (200 returned, 700 individuals still displaced); and barngay Pamilian, Datu Saudi (86 individuals)

North Cotabato

The IDPs displaced by a rido in the ‘snakefish’area, started to return to Nangaan following an AFP intervention, while IDPs are reluctant to return to Simoni due to a lack of trust in the security situation. The majority of the IDPs from barangay Simone and Nangaan, Kabacan, have already returned to their places of origin.

On 9 March, the CPC team received reports regarding the presence troops in the municipalities of Aleosan and Pikit, resulting in civilian preparations to evacuate. The team coordinated with both the AFP and the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCG) and provided information to the civilians, which calmed the situation and prevented displacement.

The team conducted 6 monitoring patrols covering Ipol, Nangaan, Simoni, Aleosan Paganan, Tubudok, Kolumbo, Pikit, Silk, Manaulanan and Ginatilan, Talitay, Rajah Muda, Bago Ingged, Buliok, Kabacan, Buluan, and Nangaan Matalam, Datu Montawal, Pagalungan and Kidapawan.  The patrols focused on markets, schools, mosques, churches, and other places of civilian nature. In addition, the situation of civilians in barangay Bulol and Bualan in Pikit, and civilians in sitio Habitat, Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan, were monitored.

The team received 11 pieces of information, whereupon 3 were monitored and 5 verified.

On top of this, the team visited numerous evacuation centres and returnee communities to monitor the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including: sitio Ipol, barangay Dungoan, M’lang municipality (over 100 families); barangay Libungan, Piccawayan municipality (189 families); barangay Lanoon, Carmen municipality (20 families); Lanoon, Carmen IDP Camp (55 families); and barangay Tamped II, Matalam (357 families).

Lanao del Norte

The field team provided proactive presence through 7 monitoring patrols covering Matampay, Delabayan, Munai, Poona Piagapo, Kulambugan, Bacolod, Salvador and Kalobe. During the month 20 pieces of information reached the team, whereupon 9 were monitored and 3 verified.

In the last week of the month a CPC Awareness Community Meeting in Munai and Kauswagan was conducted jointly with all CPC partners.

The team also visited numerous evacuation centres and returnee communities to monitor the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including: Barangay Tambo, municipality of Munai (278 families displaced in 2008 of which approximately 65 remain).

Lanao del Sur

The CPC team has received feedback on how the local community in Lanao del Sur perceives its civilian protection activities. A source from Radio SAKSI told the team that local people in Lanao Del Sur have begun to realize the importance of the CPC work in creating a relatively stable atmosphere at this stage of the peace process. The source added that in a community discussion over VHF communications, the majority of the participants declared that they have noticed an improvement in the general security situation after the deployment of the CPC teams.

The field team provided safety and security to civilians through 2 monitoring visits to Balingdon and 6 patrols in the municipalities of Tugaya, Madalum and Butig, the Irrigation Dump Area in Malaig Sumpit River, Marantao, Wato Balindong, Tugaya and Madalum.

In March the team received 27 alerts and pieces of information, whereupon 18 were monitored and 6 verified.

The team visited the IDP camp in barangay Salonga Bonding, municipality of Madalum, 2nd district Lanao del Sur and had a meeting with the leader of the IDPs. Most of the IDPs living in the camp came from Lanao del Norte. There are a total of 25 households.

SOCSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani, based in General Santos City)

In March the team finally moved into the new office and house in barangay Labangal, General Santos City.  As the team successfully established a network of stakeholders in the provinces of areas of responsibilities, activities began to shift from CPC introductions to include more monitoring and verification activities.

The field team conducted two monitoring patrols in the course of the month, covering Isulan, Surullah, Korondal, Kiamba Poblacion and General Santos City, and conducted one monitoring visit to barangay Lumasal, municipality of Maasim in Sarangani province. It received 13 alerts and pieces of information, whereupon 7 were monitored and 3 verified.

Sulu

This month the NP-CPC Secretariat received 26 daily reports from the national civilian protection.  The month was marked by natural disasters and bomb attacks, which were apparently not connected to the GPH/MILF conflict.

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* Rido refers to a state of recurring hostilities between families and kinship groups characterized by a series of retaliatory acts of violence carried out to avenge a perceived affront or injustice