Bantay Bayanihan CSOs vow support for ‘Normalization in Bangsamoro’

From the Philippine Information Agency-Zamboanga Peninsula Region (Jul 3): Bantay Bayanihan CSOs vow support for ‘Normalization in Bangsamoro’

Selected Mindanao civil society organizations (CSOs) engaged in Bantay Bayanihan gathered in Davao City for a seminar-workshop for Normalization in the Bangsamoro last June 26-28.

Kathline Anne Sigua Tolosa of the Security Reform Initiative (SRI), convener and Bantay Bayanihan National Secretariat said that Bantay Bayanihan conducts parallel efforts to better understand and accompany the peace process in the light of the positive developments between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that led to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

"In December 2013, Bantay Bayanihan network of civil society organizations underwent capacitation on the language, concept, process, and mechanisms on how best to be an oversight not only on the security sector reform, but also to the closure process of the political settlement,” she said.

Tolosa added that the activity sought to capacitate CSOs as active partners in creating an enabling environment for normalization (one of the annexes in the CAB) and that specific set of knowledge and skills relevant for CSOs to positively contribute in normalization was covered during the training.

The activity also hoped to provide a space for constructive discussion among CSOs, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police participants from Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Norte, Lanao Sur and Cotabato-Maguindanao.

Through inputs, updates, and workshops, the CSOs were capacitated with the sharing of the following resource persons: Gen. Leo Ferrer of the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) who gave updates on the CABs annex on Normalization and on Decommissioning of the MILF and the spaces for CSO engagement; Dr. Ces Noble, the Senior Research Officer of Independent Commission on Policing-UNDP who gave feedback on the Bantay Bayanihan consultation on the proposed new police force in the Bangsamoro; Kathline Tolosa of the Security Reform Initiative who shared some lessons on the DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration) from CPLA and RPA Peace Table; and Dr. Grace Rebollos of Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) who also shared lessons from other countries experience of DDR particularly that of East Timor Leste.

Skills in CSO’s engagement with communities on Normalization were also provided by the following: Abel Moya of Pakigdait Inc. who shared some process on how to strengthen Interfaith and Indigenous Peoples Solidarity toward a Peaceful Bangsamoro: a small group reflective sharing; Miriam Suacito of Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. who shared on peace-building and facilitating dialogues and conversations, including addressing apprehensions and indifference on Normalization using the “Art of Hosting;” and Hadji Balajadia of Ateneo de Davao University who shared some concepts and methods on documentation and fact-finding.

Moreover, the participants also witnessed the Congressional Consultation: Multi-stakeholders’ Perspective on the Bangsamoro held at Ateneo de Davao University last June 26, a public consultation initiated by the Congressional Committee on National Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples as presided by Representative Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato’s second district.

The seminar-workshop was supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and The Asia Foundation (TAF).

Bantay Bayanihan is a civil society initiative performing oversight role on the Philippine military’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan and is a network that aims to advance security sector reform in the country. It has been operating for more than two years and has established a firm footing in the security landscape of the local areas with more than 150 member organizations.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1421404290034