LPP-CSOs hold security forum in Lanao del Norte

LPP-CSOs hold security forum in Lanao del Norte

By Jun Enriquez and Malyne D. Gungob

Tubod, Lanao del Norte, August 28, 2015 – It was a successful and challenging event by the Lanao Peace Partnership (LPP), a network of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City, conducted a 2-day forum, “Engaging the Security Sector: Focus on Coordination Mechanism of the Peace Process”, held last August 26-27, 2015 at Riana’s Restaurant and Function Hall, Mindanao Civic Center (MCC), Sagadan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. There were around 146 Participants coming from different agency namely; Arm Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Special Action Forces (SAF), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local Government Unit (LGU), Media, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), International Monitoring Team (IMT), and Local Monitoring Team (LMT), Nonviolent Peaceforce and many others.

The said forum was organized by the Lanao Peace Partnership (LPP) composed of Four (4) different Organizations such as the Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao (MSU-IIT IPDM) headed by Dr. Mark Anthony Torres, Officer in Charge; Pailig Development Foundation Incorporated (PDFI) headed by Roberto Quijano, Managing Director; Kapamagogopa Incorporated (KI) headed by Engr. Mariam Barandia, Executive Director and Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace Incorporated (CSO-FP Inc.) headed by Juanito C. Enriquez Jr.. Managing Director. The theme for the forum: “Transcending Beyond the Mamasapano Tragedy and Sustaining Community-based Education as part of the Implementation of Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the National Peace Agenda”. The said forum was in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation - Civil Peace Service (GIZ-ZFD). It may recalled that the purpose of the activity is to cascade information about the ceasefire mechanism, surface issues regarding the implementation of the ceasefire mechanism and provide policy recommendation/ alternatives to strengthen the ceasefire mechanism.

However, the chief of operation of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), Mr. William Hovland, from IMT office, Cotabato City, in his presentation on Lessons learned from Mamasapano, the IMT’s role and responsibility on the security aspect is through observation and monitoring on the implementation of cessation of hostilities signed between the Governement of the Philippines (GPH) and moro Islamic Liberation Fron (MILF); Conduct field verification to validate any reported violations of the cessation of hostilities agreements signed by GPH and MILF;   Coordinate closely with the Joint ceasefire committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH)GPH-MILF and the Local monitoring Team (LMT) in the conduct of field verification and validation of reported violation to any of cessation of hostilities agreements signed by the panels, security aspects for the concept of operation, socio-economic assistance and civilian protection component (CPC).

Standing at left, Mr. William Hovland, explained IMT's role
in the peace process.

Mr. Kamran Shah, Head of field office Nonviolent Peaceforce based in Iligan City, in his presentation on Civilian component stated their role and responsibility such as to Monitor Human rights (HR) abuses and Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Monitor other forms of violence and protection concerns. Conduct verifications and fact finding mission on violations of IHL and HR and verify reported cases. Lastly, Shah said the NP will make report on the compliance and non-compliance of the parties (GPH-MILF) with the CPC protocol.

On the other hand, Major Carlos Sol Jr. head of the Secretariat, Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) presented the GPH-MILF Peace architecture in the Annex on Normalization and operational guidelines of the ceasefire agreement (CCCH and AHJAG). Sol said that it has been 17 years of peace negotiation and lots of lesson learned, but still have plenty of things to improve in order to achieve what really want to have a very peaceful environment and develop Mindanao for the purpose to provide background of the operational environment and the architecture of the peace process with emphasis of the Peace agreement between the government and the MILF. It included the new body, the JNC and generates insights with the role of stakeholders and third party in the peace process. Sol said that It’s very timely that people and stakeholders in the Mindanao peace process have important roles and significance to achieve peaceful environment. He said the mechanisms are only oversight, but the actual workers of the ground are the stakeholders of the government and MILF. In the absence of the stakeholders the mechanism will malfunction.

It was observed that it seems like there is a problem of incomplete structure of CCCH. Col. Gilbert Gapay, Brigade Commander of 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade has recommended personalities from GPH-MILF Lanao to fill-up the gap in the structure of the ceasefire mechanism in order to have a good flow of communication especially in solving problems in the implementation of the peace agreement.

Indeed most of the questions raised by the participants during the open forum was the issue on Coordination and the impact of the Mamasapano incident vital to security and avoidance of repetition of the incident.

On the second and last day of the forum, understanding conflict in Lanao del Norte with the presence of tri-people and maximum tolerance, respect and understanding must be obeserved. The participants identified the importance on access to livelihood projects because hunger is one of the causes of conflict. There is an importance of conflict analysis to determine the root cause of conflicts because petty crimes became religious conflict due to stereotyping of Muslims.

The forum also discussed the updates on BBL. Participants asking to give a chance to the BBL. It’s already 17 years of negotiations and just ended by signing the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). The BBL helps normalize Lanao but it was said that BBL is not a guarantee to lasting peace but will help attain peace and development. It was observed that a lack of information drive about BBL did not reach to the grassroot level will create problem of misconceptions.

Participants raised the idea of love and hate by recognizing the relationship of the GPH and MILF. Hate was pictured out like mistrust, a feeling either positive or negative but differs on the intention o the issue. Others said that there is no such thing as hate but only misguided feelings and emotions. Participants have identified problems exists in the Lanao region such as the presence of rido or family feud, rampant drug abuse and addiction, political rivalries and dynasties, land conflict, lack of crime justice and cultural diversity.

Sustaining efforts towards peace and development should go hand in hand. The need of collaboration, cooperation and coordination such as awareness raising, information and education campaign (IEC) materials distribution, access to livelihood program, are important elements in conflict transformation. Peace is not just the absence of war but a life sustaining environment with importance on community dialogue. It was observed that attaining peace in Mindanao is a continuing process. In Lanao del Norte, there are three out of six municipalities are still uncertain on its inclusion to the Bangsamoro.  Others observed that some parts of the BBL are unconstitutional but reactions from fellow participants said that clarification to determine the constitutionality of the BBL is the duty of the Supreme Court.

Mayor Limbona of Pantar,
Lanao del Norte, presented the 
aggregates of empty shells 
after the attack in Pantar on 
Aug. 26 & 27, 2015 by 
numbering to 200 
unidentified gunmen,
lasted for 22 hours of sporadic
gun fire of the alleged
political rido.
(photo by Ric Clet)

The issue on loose firearms in Lanao is recognized as one of the major problems and there is a need to minimize if not eradicate on it. One of the identified solutions is to have a continuing community dialogue. The conduct of operation against loose fire arms is one of the tasks of the PNP. There is a need to create task force in dismantling the private armed groups with possible possession of high powered and unlicensed firearms.  It was also identified the Normalization in the peace process is expected to continue in the absence of the BBL. The importance of decommissioning under the Normalization process is applicable not only for the MILF but also to private armed groups (PAGS). The MILF declared allegedly to have in its possession with 15,000 loose firearms.

In a synthesis by Dr. Mark Anthony Torres, officer-in-charge of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM), emphasized that the problem in Lanao is multi-dimensional. The participants raised issues that are anchored on the wider context of Normalization process in Lanao. Torres said that this is the reason why the participants surfaced many other issues that are outside the bounds of the ceasefire mechanism. He said that there is a need to provide spaces for sharing of information not only about the ceasefire mechanism but also on the various tracks of the peace process and need updates on the political negotiation about the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), process of Normalization, people-to-people peacebuilding. He said there was a strong emphasis on the importance of coordination not only among key players in the ceasefire mechanism such as the military, police, AHJAG, CCCH, IMT, etc., but also with other stakeholders such as the community. Coordination, collaboration and cooperation in the settlement of rido are very important factors.

Torres said the observance of the codes of conduct within the ranks of the government forces as well as that of the MILF shall be in order. The role of other stakeholders, such as the community will not only in monitoring violations of the ceasefire agreement, but also in maintaining peace in a locality. This also includes lobbying for the observance of the ceasefire agreement between government and MILF forces. The consciousness of action of the community in helping the PNP and AFP in solving problems in the community shall be in place. Coordination means communication and dialogue, such as the open line communication with commanders of government forces and the MILF. Actions that are anchored on love with fellowmen and strict observance of the implementing guidelines of the ceasefire agreement must be followed.

Torres said that the GPH must designate a CCCH representative from Lanao to include MILF Counterpart. Strengthen the code of conduct of both GPH and MILF parties in terms of delineation of military and community areas and the delineation of the geographic boundaries of camp Bilal. Law enforcement operations (LEO) should be the sole responsibility of the PNP. Participation of the MILF in the conduct of LEO should be coursed through the Ad hoc joint action group (AHJAG).

Torres said that the MILF is reminded not to partake in clan feuds or Rido to avoid the escalation of conflict against government forces. He said minimizing, if not stop the proliferation of loose fire arms is to minimize armed confrontation. The conduct of community-based consultations in this regard is deemed important and the PNP and AFP must be aggressive in pursuing violators. There was also a suggestion regarding the faithful identification and dismantling of Private Armed Groups (PAGs) and amend the firearms law of the Philippines to encourage the registration of guns. Support the decommissioning not only of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), but also to other armed groups such as PAGs, etc.. Indeed Torres said the importance of documentation, adoption, and replication of best practices in maintaining peace and order is very necessary. Photos by Malyne D. Gungob