JPST training builds GPH-MILF mutual trust, understanding

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 11): JPST training builds GPH-MILF mutual trust, understanding

The recently concluded training for members of the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs) was not a mere display of the continuing commitment of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to the Bangsamoro peace process but a strengthening of their mutual trust and understanding.

“Because of this training, we were able to hear the side of our former enemies in the battleground and we realized that they really do not seek for more discord. They also desire for peace here in Mindanao,” said 2nd Lt. Emmanuel Ferrer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

His realization was a result of the 11-day training for the JPST that started on November 25 at the Old Provincial Capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao where both government and MILF forces had the chance to interact with each other through their daily conditioning exercises, classroom discussions, teambuilding activities, and during mealtimes.

“If it were possible for former enemies to achieve unity in working together towards a common goal, then peace in our country is also possible,” he said.

The training attended by 75 members of the MILF under the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), 34 Armed Forces of the Philippines, and 39 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel was jointly supervised by the government and the MILF.

Participants who undergone the training will soon be deployed as members of JPSTs in critical areas as agreed upon by both the government and the MILF to maintain peace and order. The JPSTs are part of the transitional mechanisms that will take key roles in the security aspect of the normalization process and will primarily be concerned with transforming conflict-affected areas into peaceful and sustainable communities.

“We play an important role in providing security during the decommissioning of the MILF combatants back to their desired quality of life, in tracking of private armed groups, and in documenting any activities transpiring in our area of deployment,” said Police Inspector Edwin R. Tono, one of the trainees from the PNP.

Tono said that the training is a clear indication that the government, with the MILF hierarchy, are doing its part in finding various ways in resolving “the causes of conflict that resulted to loss of lives and property and multiple internally displaced persons.”

He also expressed his appreciation of the teambuilding component of the training. “Ang dating magkalaban ay nagkakaisa, nagtutulungan, nagkakaunawaan tungo sa kapayapaan na matagal na nating minimithi. (Former foes have built unity, cooperation, and understanding toward peace that we have long been aspiring for.)” expressed Tono.

Such sentiments were echoed by Mujahid Tennex A. Makalimpas, a BIAF member for more than 30 years and also now a member of the JPST. “Noon hindi kami nagkakaintidihan. At nag-uusap lang kami sa barilan. Ngayon, nagtatrabaho na kami para sa isang hangarin nating kapayapaan para sa kinabukasan ng Mindanao at ng pamilya natin. (Before, we didn’t understand each other. We only talked through the barrels of our guns. Now, we are already working for the common goal of peace for the future of Mindanao and our families.)”, said Makalimpas.

The understanding between the forces may even reached to a point where participants may share their personal problems to other trainees. “Dahil nagkakaisa kaming lahat, dapat alam din namin ang problema ng aming kasamahan at matulungang masolve ito (Because we are united, we must know our colleagues’ problems and help them to solve it),” Canim Ditungalan, a BIAF member, shared.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=836920