An elderly woman is escorted by a GPH-MILF Peace Corridor volunteer as they navigate the debris-filled street at the foot of Bayabao Bridge in Marawi City, site of intense fighting between government troops and members of the Maute group, on Sunday, June 4, 2017. Raffy Tima
Peace Corridor volunteers of the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF) stationed in Marawi City went the extra mile to facilitate the retrieval of trapped civilians inside the conflict area, even risking their lives to save the others, a report posted on OPAPP website on June 21 said.
“This is our work, we risk our lives to save trapped civilians. Aside from risking our lives, we also make sure that ceasefire is working well,” Marjanie Mimbantas, a MILF member volunteering for Peace Corridors told OPAPP.
With the ongoing crisis here in the city, MILF members found themselves performing a new role working side-by-side with the Philippine Government (GPH) by facilitating a safe and secure route for the retrieval of trapped civilians and humanitarian assistance to pass through.
The Peace Corridor is a joint initiative between the GPH and the MILF resulted from the meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in Davao City on May 29.
Marjanie, who is also a member of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel, said that the GPH-MILF Peace Corridors are one of retrieval efforts organized, alongside with initiatives from both the city and provincial governments.
“Our Peace Corridors are unique because we are going inside the war zone not only those which are cleared areas,” he explained.
MILF volunteers to the Peace Corridors are often assigned to enter the conflict zone to retrieve the trapped civilians within the area. Despite of the dangers they will encounter, Marjanie and other MILF volunteers are always prepared to go to help others.
“That’s the reason why we are camping here. Whenever someone asks for help, we are ready to go,” Marjanie pointed out.
Their movement, however, will still depend on the assessment of the ground commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Marjanie emphasized that it is only when they get a clearance that the operation will commence.
As of June 21, a total of 240 civilians were retrieved out of the war zone.
“If not because of this Peace Corridor, we will not able to go inside. This is one thing that we are very thankful to the Peace Corridors,” Marjanie said.
“Our presence here manifests the sincerity of the both GPH and MILF to finally solve this problem,” Marjanie further said.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/898/milf-peace-corridor-volunteers-risk-lives-to-save-others
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