Muslims March In Sulu To Protest Killings Of Civilians

Hundreds of Muslims join a rally Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, on Sulu province in the southern Philippines, calling for justice for seven civilians killed during a military operation. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called for a thorough military investigation into the killings of the seven civilians and an off-duty soldier during an operation against al-Qaida-linked militants in the southern Philippines, the Defense chief Gilbero Teodoro said Saturday. Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan vows to give justice to the victims. The human rights groups Suara Bangsamoro and Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society also denounce the killings. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 09, 2008) – Thousands of people marched in Sulu province Saturday condemning the killings of seven innocent Muslims by government soldiers during an operation against the militant Abu Sayyaf group.

Filipino troops trained by US forces were blamed for the killing of 8 people during a military operation early Monday in the town of Maimbung in Sulu province. Among the dead were two children and two teenagers, including a pregnant woman and an off-duty army soldier.

Many marchers were chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) while others took turn in criticizing the military for the death of the civilians.

“We hate them. We hate the soldiers and we don’t want them here,” one protester, Jul Ismael, said. “Those soldiers are Muslim killers and blood is now on their hands.”

The military insisted the operation targeted the Abu Sayyaf and that two soldiers and three militants were also killed in the fighting. But the Commission on Human Rights which investigated the killings said there were no Abu Sayyaf militants in the village and that the soldiers were probably killed by their companions when they surrounded and attacked houses in the village.

Mayor Hussin Amin, of Jolo town, joined the marchers, composed mostly of civil society groups, non-governmental organizations and Muslim religious sector, and said they were demanding justice for the killings. “We want justice for killings of innocent people. We want those involved in the murder to pay for their crimes. We want them lock up in jail,” he said.

The soldiers who raided the village were members of the Army's Light Reaction Company, trained by US forces, and Navy's Special Warfare Group.
Two of the largest Muslim human rights groups, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society and the Suara Bangsamoro also joined the protests. “We want justice. There should be no cover up of this barbaric and dastardly act,” said Amira Lidasan, national president of the Suara Bangsamoro.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also arrived in Sulu on Saturday and met with Gov. Sakur Tan and assured that there will be no cover up in the ongoing investigation into the killing of the civilians. He said President Gloria Arroyo ordered a probe into the incident.

“The instruction of President Arroyo is to have a credible investigation,” he said. “I am here today to reassure of a factual investigation into the incident. I am here to convey that we will be cooperating full with the investigations.”

Teodoro met with families of those killed in the raid and heard the testimony of Rawina Wahid, wife of the slain soldier, Pfc. Ibnul Wahid, of the 6th Infantry Division.

She said the raiders dragged her husband out of their thatched house in the village despite his plea. “My husband told the soldiers that he is a member of the Philippine Army, but they never listened and dragged him out of the house, bound his hands behind his back and then shot him. They did not listen to our pleading and they killed my husband,” she said.

The woman said there were no Abu Sayyaf militants in the village, but civilians. “People in our village are just seaweed farmers. We are all civilians and there is no Abu Sayyaf in the village,” she said.

“I saw four American soldiers on the boat and Filipino blinded folded me,” she told reporters. Wahid said she boarded a Philippine Navy boat that took her husband's remains to a military base in Jolo town.

ABS-CBN television reported that other villagers also noticed the presence of US soldiers on the boat. It quoted reports by the human rights groups Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society and the Suara Bangsamoro that the presence of the US forces in the area raised concerns about its involvement in local military operations, which violates the Philippine Constitution.

Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of an anti-terror task force in Sulu province, denied the reports and said US soldiers were not involved in the operation. "No US soldiers were involved in the operation and they were not even near the town when the fighting broke out," Rafael said.

Other who survived that carnage said soldiers took their animals and ransacked their houses, but three villagers said the raiders, many wearing night vision goggles, torched three thatched houses.

Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said he ordered soldiers involved in the operation to cooperate with the ongoing investigations. “I have ordered the troops to be open in the investigation and to tell the truth,” he said.

Tan said the police will also investigate the killings of the civilians. He branded the killings as “barbaric and dastardly.” One of the victims was shot at close range in the forehead, his right eye was gorged and right ear missing. One had a missing finger while another had burns on his body and legs.

Those killed were identified as Marisa Payian, 4; Wedme Lahim, 9; Alnalyn Lahim, 15; Sulayman Hakob, 17; Kirah Lahim, 45; Eldisim Lahim, 43; Narcia Abon, 24; all civilians and Pfc. Ibnul Wahid, of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.

Tan has condemned the killings of the innocent civilians and vowed to file criminal charges against the soldiers. He said many of those killed were shot in the head.

"Innocent civilians were killed. The children were shot in the head. We condemned the killings and those soldiers involved in the murder of innocent people must be charged in court and pay for their crimes," Tan said.

Philippine flags around Sulu were flown at half-mast since Tuesday as Muslims mourn the deaths of innocent civilians.

On Thursday, the SALINLAHI Alliance for Children's Concerns, an umbrella organization of child rights and welfare groups, strongly condemned the killings and urged for an independent probe of the incident.

"The usual casualties in this campaign are innocent civilians, particularly women and children. The incident again proved that the anti-terrorism campaign as well as the counter-insurgency program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines directed against the handful Abu Sayyaf and other armed groups is absorbed more by the civilian population rather than their real targets," Alphonse Rivera, the group's spokesman, said.

"Every incident involving military personnel as perpetrators is dismissed by the military top-brass as casualties of "legitimate encounters" to justify their acts and escape culpability. The next thing we will hear is that the military will insist that these children are also Abu Sayyaf members as if that will justify the killing," Rivera said.

Reps. Yusop Jikiri, of Sulu province and Mujiv Hataman, of Basilan have separately called for a congressional investigation into the killings in Maimbung town.

Jikiri, a former rebel leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, said the off-duty soldier killed along with seven civilians was shot in front of his wife.

"Wahid was reportedly hogtied first before he was shot in front of her. The wife, in fact, showed the military uniform of her husband, but the soldiers merely ignored the plea of Mrs. Wahid. Later, Mrs. Wahid was taken by the soldiers to the rubber boat allegedly driven by an American soldier," Jikiri said in a privilege speech in Congress on Wednesday.

Hataman also filed a resolution on Thursday seeking for an urgent investigation of the killings, which he described as "despicable, loathsome and ruthless."

"There is no valid reason, especially for the soldiers who are supposed to be the protector of the people, to kill innocent civilians, particularly children," he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

5,000 Muslims, Christians Hold Rally In Southern Philippines

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 07, 2008) - Over 5,000 demonstrators in Basilan island warned Thursday that in the event the derailed peace talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) breaks down, its ‘bloody ramifications’ would be felt not only in Mindanao but also in the whole country.

Conflict could also spill over to Luzon and Visayas shoudl the peace talks totally collapsed.“The Bangsamoro is asserting its rights because of injustice,” said Ustadz John Ausal, MILF spokesperson in Basilan.

“If the peace talks will be broken and the negotiations will stop, I am ninety-nine percent sure that war will start again.”

“If there is no peace in Mindanao, then there will be no peace in Visayas and Luzon as well,” said Hadji Hamid Salahuddin, the local leader of the rebel group.

The protesters gathered at Datu Dizal Cultural Center in Lamitan City to push the government and the MILF into resuming the peace talks, which has been stalled for nearly two months already.

“I doubt it if the government is sincere in negotiating on ancestral domain. Even during our time (GRP-MNLF peace talks), niloloko lang kami ng GRP (they are fooling us already),” Salahuddin said.

Sammy Maulana, secretary-general of Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, a network of 164 Moro non-government and people’s organizations, urged the government and MILF peace panels into returning to the negotiating table immediately but lambasted the former for “not abiding with what have been previously agreed by the two parties.”

“While some say that the voice of the government can be considered as the voice of God, it only holds true if that government is pro-people. But the actions of this (Philippine) government show that it is anti-people. Therefore, the Bangsamoro people must voice out, because it is truer that the voice of the people is the voice of God,” Maulana said.

The GRP-MILF peace talks have been derailed when the MILF negotiating panel boycotted the 15th Exploratory Talks last December 15 to 17, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia because the government draft of a proposed memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain did not contain much of the consensus points earlier agreed by the two parties.

The GRP also inserted a provision, which states that the implementation of the agreement will have to follow constitutional process.Since deposed President Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s declaration of all-out war in 2000, the GRP-MILF peace talks progressed when government agreed not to use the constitution as a framework and the MILF dropped its demand for independence.

Situations have been aggravated by recent statements from some of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s key officials threatening the MILF with sanctions.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said government should not give in to the MILF’s demand for a “juridical entity” without a plebiscite, while AFP Vice Chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero stated that peace talks would not continue without MILF’s disarmament.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, the presidential adviser on the peace process, analyzed the impasse as “among the most serious to stall the rocky talks, a big hump” upon which the GRP has no “magic formula” while “looking for a way out”.

Over 100,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Cotabato, Marawi, General Santos, and Iligan last month to break the impasse. “It is high time that the people of Basilan should be aware of the peace processes because they are affected by it and the end benefits eventually go to them,” said Lantawan Mayor Tahira Ali.

“The people of Basilan want peace in their province. The people are united in attaining peace in Basilan. This can be attained if it is not mixed with political motives by those in power,” Vice Governor Rashid Sakkalahul said. (Norodin Makalay)

Anti-US Rally, Nagbabanta Sa Mindanao

SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 03, 2008) – Habang papalapit ang joint RP-US Balikatan sa Mindanao at Sulu ay palakas ng palakas naman ang sigaw ng mga ibat-ibang militanteng grupo sa pagprotesta sa patuloy na pamamalagi ng mga Kanong sundalo sa rehiyon.

Inaasahang magsisimula ang Balikatan sa Pebrero 18 sa lalawigan ng Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan at Lanao, na pawang mga lugar ng mga Muslim. Sinabi ng Suara Bangsamoro na nakaumang na ang malawakang protesta ng grupo na sasamahan rin ng Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society at iba pa.

Mahigit sa 6,000 mga sundalo mula sa Estados Unidos at Pilipinas ang inaasahang sasabak sa Balikatan, ngunit iginigiit naman ng lokal na militar na pawang mga humanitarian at medical mission lamang ang isasagawa sa Mindanao at Sulu Archipelago at ang military training ay sa Luzon idaraos.

“Wala naman problema ang Balikatan eh. Pulos medical mission at humanitarian activities lamang ang isasagawa natin sa Mindanao at Sulu,” ani Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, hepe ng Western Mindanao Command, sa panayam ng Mindanao Examiner.

Subalit lumalakas ang reklamo ng kabastusan at human rights violations ng mga Kano sa mga lugar na kung saan sila naka-base.

Sa Sulu ay ipinasara ng mga aroganteng Kano ang isang pagamutan sa bayan ng Panamao sa tuwing sasapit and dilim. Sa Zamboanga City ay isang lalaki na sakay ng kanyang motorsiklo ang binangga ng isang sundalong Kano na matapos ng insidente ay iniwanan lamang nito ng isang card ang biktima at iniwang dugaan sa kalsada nuong nakaraang lingo lamang.

Sa Basilan ay may nabaril diumano ang mga Kano at hindi lamang ito ang una dahil sa Zamboanga City ay isang binatilyo rin ang ginawang target ng mga Kano habang namumulot iyo ng kahoy di-kalayuan sa isang firing range.

Matindi na umano ang galit ng mga Muslim sa mga Kano at ayaw ng karamihan na manatili ang mga ito sa Mindanao at Sulu, subali’t napipilitan na lamang dahil sa mga humanitarian at medical mission na isinagawa ng Armed Forces katuwang ang mga dayuhan.

Kapit sa patilim ang nangyayari sa mga kaawa-awang mga Muslim dahil sa hindi naman maibigay ng pamahalaan ang mga bagay na ito sa kanilang komunidad sa kabila ng matinding bigayan ng salapi ng Malakanyang sa mga kaalyadong pulitiko ng Pangulong Gloria Arroyo sa tuwing mga mga isyu ukol sa lider ng bansa. (May ambag na ulat si Nickee Butlangan)

Thousands Gather For Peace Rally In South RP

Demonstrators carry placards and streamers in Marawi City in southern Philippines. Muslims are opposing the presence of US soldiers in the region where a series of joint military trainings between the Philippines and the United States would begin this year. (Photos by Hannan Masdoc/CBCS)

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 23, 2008) - It was six thirty in the morning of Tuesday when vehicles begun to lurk the Tomawis arcade at the heart of Marawi City while men, women and children from the various mnicipalities of Lanao del Sur province groom their vehicles getting ready for the 34-km interfaith peace caravan.

Traversing the roads from Marawi City to Iligan City were vehicles swathe with red flags with the inscription “Allahu Akbar!”, which means “Allah is Great” and black banners saying “No to Balikatan in the Bangsamoro homeland!” alongside streamers “vehemently condemning the perpetrator of Fr. Roda’s mutilation”.

Teams of the US elite Special Forces will arrive and in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte starting Feb. 18 as part of the RP-US ‘Balanced Piston’ Balikatan exercisers, Philippine military officials told the Mindanao examiner newspaper.

The director of the Notre Dame of Tabawan and the head o Mission in Tawi-Tawi, Fr. Reynaldo A. Roda, OMI was brutally killed by unidentified armed men inside the chapel after refusing to go with the kidnappers on January 14.

The peace caravan came together with oozing spirits of frustrations from the different non-Moro civil society organizations and students standing with placards at Iligan City Plaza who assembled earlier.

Close to 10,000 people were gathered to shore up support to the continuous call for the resumption of GRP-MILF Peace talks and the sincere implementation of all the peace processes in Mindanao.

“This interfaith peace caravan-rally intends to prevent possible conflict and to show to the parties that the Bangsamoro is in solidarity with the Christians and the Lumads” Lacs Daligdig, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Ranaw chairman said in his opening message.

The Interfaith Peace Caravan-Rally is an off shoot of the collective efforts of the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) shown on January 9 during the second leg of the series of the peace rallies organized by the CBCS where some 20,000 from all walks of life gathered in a Peace rally in Marawi City.

“If this acts are not enough to catch the attention of the Government, the Interfaith CSOs will organize the walk for peace from Marawi City to Malacañang Palace to show to the Government that we are indeed very serious in our fervor to attain just and lasting peace in Mindanao”, Daligdig said.

The series of peace rallies spearheaded by the CBCS that kicked off in Cotabato City on January 7 followed by Marawi City on January 9, and General Santos City in January 10 gathered more than 100,000 people, Moro and Non-Moro that draw attention and various interpretations of the Media and the General Public.

“If you want war, declare at your own risk! Do not involve the people in Mindanao!,” participants shouted during the rally. This refers to the statement of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno opposing the MILF-GRP peace process and advising the government to prepare for war should the peace talks fail.

Caricatures of Puno holding an M16 automatic rifle and US President George W. Bush were publicized by the demonstrators. Atty. Ibrahim Canama of the Federated Royal Sultanate of the Philippines stated on an appeal of the sultanates for the MILF to return to the negotiating table and for the Government to be sincere in dealing with the Peace processes, from the course of the negotiation to the implementation of the agreements to be signed.

“Our people cannot afford to live in fear,” he concluded. “We are one with the Bangsamoro in the call for lasting peace”, contented Fr. Chito Sugano of the Marawi Catholic church, “After all only those who declared war wins, we are all victims.”

“The Bangsamoro homeland, our bread and butter are happily utilized as battlegrounds, leaving its inhabitants with dime of hope”, Fr. Chito contented further. “How many more lives do we need to sacrifice?” Dared Abulkhair Alibasa, an academe youth representative.

“The consensus points were gained at the expense of the lives of the countless Bangsamoro who died fighting for it,” he said. The reneging of the Government to the agreed consensus points was vied by the academe as an “unprofessional” and is indicative of a sheer betrayal of trust.

”President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, an Iliganon, give us the justice we long for!” “We have suffered enough!” Said Bai Lilang Macarampat, a women representative of Lanao Del Sur.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s maternal parents are from Iligan City in Lanao del Norte. “We strongly condemn war, displacements and the long hardship of the Bangsamoro!” said Maria Jittel Saquilabon, the executive director of the Tri-People’s Forum.

The forum comprises huge number of tri-people organizations in Mindanao that works for human rights and peace-building. “The Bangsamoro have suffered for 469 years!” so give us back the justice that was taken from us!” said Mohammad Tamano of the Iligan League of Students in his speech.

The astonishing span of years was derived from the invasion of Spain in 1521 that lasted for 377 years and the Americans colonization period of 40 years plus the Bangsamoro homeland under the colonial Philippines for 52 years entirely because of one thing-to preserve their Islamic rights and culture.

“Give the Bangsamoro their right to self-determination!” said Cha Lavandero of Duyog Kabataan as a statement of solidarity with the Bangsamoro. “We do not want to lose our parents because of war” she emotionally stated. “What does Puno know regarding Mindanao?”

“We, the Mindanawons are to determine our own future”, she ended. “The Balikatan exercises increases rather than prevent the escalation of conflict” marked Adonna Ontillas of the Lanao Disaster Management Organization. The emergency response team appeals to the GRP not to allow the Balikatan troops to deploy in the provinces of Lanao and other adjacent areas. (Hannan Masdoc/CBCS)

20,000 Muslims, Christians Show Up In Peace Rally In Southern RP

Marchers in General Santos City in southern Philippines. (Photos by Consortium Maulana for the Mindanao Examiner newspaper)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 12, 2008) - Sympathy and frustration reflected in the eyes of some 20,000 people notwithstanding the scorching sun as they participated in an interfaith mass action which started with a march for peace from Queen Tuna Park to the Freedom Park and ended with a prayer here.

The rally was the third leg of a series of peace rallies in Mindanao organized by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) that kicked off at Cotabato City on January 7 to pressure the government to sincerely engage with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and go back to the negotiating table and sign and eventually implement an final peace agreement, as well as truthfully keep its word with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in implementing the second phase of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

The March-rally was scheduled to start at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon. However, the trucks that carried participants from the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and South Cotabato started to arrive at 9:00am, making the assembly area at Queen Tuna Park jam-packed even before 12:00 noon.

Some of the people were forced to walk to the much wider Freedom Park earlier than the scheduled march proper to accommodate the large crowd of peace advocates.

General Santos City bombings and other random incidents in SOCSKSARGEN has consistently caught the attention of the media and the general public. The interfaith and peace rally also commemorated the 1st year anniversary of the GenSan Lotto Outlet bombing incident which killed six civilians and injured 36 others.

“We don’t want bombings in SOCSKSARGEN anymore!” said Oscar Solaiman, the CBCS-Rajah Buayan Regional Management Committee (CBCS-RBRMC) Chairmperson.

“SOCSKSARGEN is now a haven of peace” he furthered, attributing mainly this state of peace to three factors, “emergence of strong local leaders, protection from both the police and the military, and the present gains of the peace processes”.

But due to the recently “stalled peace talks, hopes were suddenly replaced by fears”, Solaiman added, referring to the cancellation of the anticipated signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on the issue of ancestral domain between the MILF and the GRP that was supposed to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 15-17, 2007.

Solaiman contended that the clamor of the MNLF to the unaccomplished review the 1996 Final Peace Accord with the Government “adds to the obstacles of the Bangsamoro People to achieve genuine peace”.

“The peaceful lives of the Bangsamoro were shattered by the tremors brought about by the coming of the colonizers” said Sammy Maulana, CBCS Secretary General during his speech.

“We are not begging anything from the Government, we just want to regain our homeland and restore our inalienable rights to self determination, both as people and a nation”.

Most of the misery expressed was focused on the vacillating stance of the GRP in non-conforming to hard-earned consensus points on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) that was prior agreed upon with the MILF. “The GRP has to demonstrate integrity by honoring the consensus points”, said Anwar Saluwang of the United Youth of the Philippines for Peace in Development (UNYPAD).

The frailty of the Government to bequeath its political will is viewed as the core barrier that impinges the realization of the peace processes in Mindanao.

Pastor Frank Bantilan, a Lumad religious leader from Sarangani Province, together with other B’laans, said that they are distressed by the sudden impasse of the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF. “Muslims and Lumads are more than brothers” “we feel no different pain” he said with conviction.

“Tri-People”, the term commonly associated with SOCSKSARGEN is mainly due to the existence of diverse tribes belonging to the Indigenous People, Christian and Muslims. “This is not a time for war” he uttered calling for stronger unity between the Lumads and Muslims.

In a Position paper, the Moro CSOs and other non-Moro supporters pointed out that “the most civilized and acceptable way to resolve conflict is through negotiation”. And the best way for a negotiation to succeed is “sincerity, honesty and political will”.

These positions were fervently made known by the CSOs: “The real implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the MNLF and Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the restoration of the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF, and for the Government to bestow its ‘political will’ towards the realization of the peace processes”.

Along with these points is the condemning of bombing incidents and any form of terrorist acts that had taken the lives of many innocent civilians, whether Muslim or Christian, in SOCSKSARGEN.

The rally ended with a plea for the souls of those who died in the bombings that had brought fear to the hearts of SOCSKSARGEN, with the hope that it will never happen again.

The CBCS is now preparing for the next legs of this series of peace rallies in Mindanao within the month in Basilan, Pagadian, Zamboanga and Sulu that is expected to draw together the concerned groups and sectors in these regions to continue the call for genuine peace in Mindanao.(Consortium Maulana)

Muslims March For Peace In Mindanao

Peace advocates march in Marawi City in southern Philippines. (Photos by Consortium Maulana for the Mindanao Examiner newspaper)

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 11, 2008) – About 20,000 people marched in Marawi City as the second leg of a peace rally kicked off in southern Philippines.

The marchers, many chanting “Allahu Akbar” which means “God is Great,” came from the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and converged at the Tomas Cabili Plaza in the village of Banggolo.

They also carried streamers and banners and many wearing shirts printed with the word “Allahu Akbar.”

It was the second leg of the series of Mindanao-wide peace rally led by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a network of 164 Moro civil society organizations in Mindanao.

The Ranaw Regional Management Committee of CBCS, led by Aenodin Cali, organized the rally in Marawi.

“The failure of peace agreements in the past can be attributed mainly to the non-participation of the Bangsamoro people, because non-participation means they do not own a peace agreement,” said Abdullah Dalidig, of the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Governance (IMERGG) and Muslim Multi-sectoral Movement for Peace and Development (MMMPD).

“As real stakeholders, their collective voice should be basis of authority and the last word in the solution of the problem.”

“The consequences of war in Mindanao have been very painful and costly. More than 150,000 people died and 100,000 were estimated to be injured. Millions were displaced from their homes and several hundred thousands, including more than 200,000 Bangsamoro who sought refuge in the Malaysian State of Sabah have not returned home,” Dalidig said.

Anwar Saluwang, deputy secretary-general of United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), an organization of Muslim youths based in Cotabato City called for the immediate return to the negotiating table of both the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels.

“We the Bangsamoro in Central Mindanao feel exactly what is felt by people in Ranaw. The Government should not wait for the Bangsamoro people to become the Bangsamoro Armed Forces,” he cited. Saluwang was there with the Marawi-based members of UNYPAD.

The first leg of the peace rally was held in Cotabato City and participated by some 30,000 people from Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, and North Cotabato provinces.

“The Bangsamoro does not belong to the MILF or the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) but the MILF and the MNLF belong to the Bangsamoro people,” said Sammy Maulana, Secretary-General of CBCS. The marchers urged the government and MILF peace negotiators to resume negotiations after talks stalled last month over the issue of the Muslim ancestral domain which will constitute a separate homeland in Mindanao. (With a report from Consortium Maulana)

Thousands Join Peace Rally In Southern Philippines

About 30,000 people, mostly Muslims, hold a peace rally Monday, January 07, 2008 in Cotabato city in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner/CBCS photos).

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 07, 2008) – About 30,000 people, mostly Muslims, joined a huge rally Monday in the southern Philippines and urged Manila to peace negotiations with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The gathering in Cotabato City was part of a series of peace rally in Mindanao, according to the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a network of Muslim non-government and people’s organizations which helped organized the event.

The group said some 50,000 people have signed to join the month-long peace rally which is expected to end in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Many of those who participated in the rally came from Shariff Kabunsuan, North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

The rally was held in response to the “fast changing” peace process in Mindanao that is reshaping the future of the locals, especially the civil society that comprises the greater majority in the grassroots, said Abdulbasit Benito, chairman of the CBCS media committee.

“The current status of the peace process in Mindanao is fast changing and reshaping the future of the ‘Mindanawons’ especially the civil society that comprise the greater majority in the grassroots. The expected signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the MILF and GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) in Kuala Lumpur on the issue of ancestral domain could have been a recompense for the ten-year long negotiation between the MILF and the GRP that commenced in July of 1997,” Benito said.

Benito was referring to the government’s stalled peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“But the stance of the GRP in nonconforming to the agreed consensus points, a clear manifestation of the feebleness of the GRP to bestow strong political will for the realization of the peace accord,” he said.

Benito said the peace rally carried the theme “Uphold the gains of the Peace Processes,” adding that “the initiative came out as a unified response to draw the attention of the ‘gate keepers’ of the peace processes.”

“We, in the civil society is aware of the fact that majority of people in the grassroots desire for a meaningful result of the peace process, not only to put an end to the ravages of war, but to address the longstanding political problem in a non-violent way,” Benito said.

Benito pointed out that the civil society’s unified response can create a desired impact by significantly reducing the possible incidence of conflict exacerbation brought about by the fragile peace confronting Mindanao. “Prerequisite to our yearning for human security, peace and economic progress is the attainment of a negotiated political settlement.”

“The action points generally aims to draw the attention of these ‘gate keepers’ to immediately take necessary actions and muster enough courage to bring about the long awaited peaceful settlement,” he said.

He said the second leg of the rally will be held on Thursday in General Santos City.

Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader, said the rally only showed how important is the peace process to the people in Mindanao. “We are not surprised at all by the huge turnout of people in the peace rally. Mindanao is for peace and we wanted peace also to rule in this homeland of ours,” he told the Mindanao Examiner newspaper.

Last week, Murad Ebrahim, leader of the MILF, appealed for patience over the failure of peace talks.

”The road to freedom is always full of twist and turn and to overcome, we must work, persist, and sacrifice,” Ebrahim said.

It was the second time the MILF appealed to Muslims and rebels for patience over the slow progress of the peace talks. Last month, Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, also appealed to Muslims to remain calm and patient over the failure of the talks.

Many rebel commanders are getting frustrated and restless over the failure of the seven-year old peace talks with the Arroyo government.

The MILF is fighting for a separate Muslim homeland in the strife-torn, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao. It accused the government of reneging to its commitment after peace talks last month failed in Malaysia, which is brokering the negotiations.

Iqbal said the Philippine panel agreed late last year on the scope of the Muslim ancestral domain, but later reneged on the accord that will constitute a separate homeland for more than 4 million Muslims and indigenous tribes in Mindanao.

Iqbal reiterated his previous statement and said his group is consistent with their demand for a Muslim homeland.

Iqbal previously said that the ugly turn of event in the peace process is taxing the patience of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people, who may be compelled to resort to other means of resolving the Mindanao conflict when they are pushed to the wall and become hopeless in the peace process.

He said the government peace panel must honor its commitment and previous agreement so the talks could resume.

”The government peace panel must honor its commitment to the Bangsamoro people because we wanted peace to reign and end the violence in Mindanao," he said. "We will wait for the government to reconsider its decision.”

The MILF said government negotiators headed by Rodolfo Garcia completely disregarded the agreement on the ancestral domain and insisted again that the granting of homeland to Muslims in Mindanao would solely be through Constitutional process which the rebel group previously opposed.

The Philippine charter prohibits the dismembering of the country.

The ancestral domain which covers the whole of Muslim autonomous region and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. And even Palawan Island in central Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago.

President Arroyo has opened up peace talks with the MILF in 2001, but since then no substantial agreements have been signed between the two sides, expect for the cease-fire accord.

The MILF earlier warned that hostilities may erupt in Mindanao if the peace talks fail.

The Philippine military previously demanded MILF rebels to lay down their weapons before peace talks could resume. (With reports from Mark Navales and Norodin Makalay)

IDP Forum, Peace Caravan Held In Basilan Island

Basilan island Governor Jum Akbar reads the manifesto presented by IDPs with CBCS' Sammy Maulana.

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 20, 2007) – Hundreds of people joined a peace caravan in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, where a manifesto was also signed by peace advocates, led by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS).

Most of those who joined the caravan were representatives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the towns of Albarka, Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan, Sumisip, and Akbar that had been affected by the July 10 fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and government forces.

Prior to the “Caravan for Justice and Peace,” the CBCS held a forum about the plight of the IDPs and they also narrated their plight and problems that they have been facing since being displaced by the fighting.

“About 40% of those affected by the conflict remained displaced. The others have returned, but in a marginal basis only, as they only go to their lands during the day but return to their evacuated locations at night.“

“They continue to live in this kind of set up because of the general fear that military operations and open armed conflict will once again erupt at anytime. They lament the fact that the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Basilan is not sensitive to the welfare of the civilians that are adversely affected by their military operations, that they all of them are unfairly suspected of being sympathizers or supporters of the Abu Sayyaf Group that is allegedly operating in their communities, and that no peace mechanism has yet been thought of and installed by either the LGUs concerned, or between the AFP and the MILF in the province that would assure them that they could safely and permanently return to their places of origin and begin to rebuild their lives anew,” CBCS said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

It also enumerated several problems the IDPs are currently facing: 1) Experiencing economic crisis due to the loss of their source of livelihood and have fallen into debt, 2) Trauma to children due to insensitive military operations, such as extremely loud artillery fire that are within or in close proximity to populated areas, some of which have caused cases of nausea and vomiting, 3) Indefinite suspension of classes due to abandonment of schools and no salary given to teachers, 4) Illness, disease and malnutrition experienced by children and elders, whether those in the places of evacuation or those who have returned, due to absence of delivery of basic health and social services, and 5) Difficulty in reviving sources of livelihood in the places of origin because of the absence of delivery of basic public services and the destruction of property.

Based on these problems, an IDP Manifesto was drafted and signed by the IDPs present in the forum that called for local and national stakeholders and leaders to act on the problems they are facing until today and to uphold their rights to live in a peaceful environment, to enjoy security to life, limb and property, and to be free from military threats and harassment.

A copy of the manifesto was also sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

(In the name of God, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful)

BASILAN IDP’s MANIFESTO

Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu!

Kami pong mga nagsipaglagda sa ibaba nito na mga representante ng mga pamilyang galing sa mga munisipyo ng Albarka, Tipo-Tipo, Sumisip, Tuburan, Adjul at Akbar dito sa lalawigan ng Basilan, ng Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao sa katimugang bahagi ng Pilipinas na napinsala at napilitang lumikas dahil sa armadong hidwaan sa pagitan ng Hukbong Sandatahan ng Republika ng Pilipinas (AFP) at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) noong ikasampo ng Hulyo, 2007, at sa pagtugis ng mga puwersa ng AFP sa mga kasapi sa Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) noong buwan ng Agosto, ay nagkaisa upang ipahayag sa araw na ito ang aming kasalukuyang kalagayan at mga kahilingan upang makamit ang katarungan at kapayapaan na nauukol para sa amin.

Kami po ay dati nang mahirap, na puspusang nakikibaka upang makamit ang desente at makataong antas ng pamumuhay sa aming bayan. Subalit sa kabila ng aming pagsisikap at pagpupunyagi ay napinsala kami ng mga nabanggit na armadong hidwaan at marami sa aming bilang, magpahanggang ngayon, ay hindi pa nakakabalik sa aming mga pinagmulang tirahan at lupain.

Sa amin pong paglikas ay napilitan naming iwanan ang mga ari-arian at mga kabuhayan na matagal na naming naipundar matiyak lamang ang kaligtasan ng aming mga minamahal sa buhay.

Sa kasalukuyan po ay may tinatayang 40% sa amin ang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakakabalik sa aming mga tirahan at lupain. Samantala, ang 60% naman sa amin ay nakabalik na. Subalit, ang dalawang grupong ito ay patuloy na dumaranas ng di makataong pamumuhay sa kanilang kinaroroonan.

Ito po ay dahil sa mga sumusunod na kadahilanan:

1. Ang mga hindi pa nakakabalik sa kanilang mga tirahan ay ayaw bumalik dahil sa matinding alanganin na posibleng magkaroon muli ng armadong hidwaan o putukan sa anumang oras. Ang kalagayang ito ay lalong pinasama noong huling halalan na kung saan ay nagkaroon din ng kalat-kalat na armadong engkwentro sa pagitan ng iba’t ibang mga grupo.

2. Ito rin ang agam-agam ng mga taong nakabalik na sa kanilang mga tirahan at lupain, na maaaring sila ay mapilitang lumikas muli kung biglaang magkakaroon ng panibagong armadong hidwaan sa mga lugar nila.

3. Ang mga hindi pa nakakabalik sa kanilang mga tirahan ay ayaw rin bumalik dahil sa halos kawalan ng mga pangkaraniwang serbisyo-publiko sa mga lugar na ito. Dagdag pa rito ang kahirapan sa buhay na nararanasan nila sa ngayon doon sa mga lugar na kanilang pinaglikasan, kung saan ay nabaon sila sa utang dahil sa kawalan ng kabuhayan at kawalan ng pagkakataong makapaghanap-buhay ng maayos.

4. Natigil ang pagaaral ng mga estudyante dahil sa pagsara ng mga paaralan at sa di pagpapasahod sa mga guro ng mga paaralang ito. Hanggang sa ngayon hindi pa ito natutugunan.
5. Ang paglala ng kalagayan ng kalusugan at paglaganap ng malnutrisyon sa maraming bakwit, lalo na sa mga kabataan at mga matatanda.

6. Ang pagkasira ng mga bahay at ari-arian nila dahil sa pagkasunog o di kaya dahil sa napagitna ang mga ito sa mga barilan.

7. Ang kawalan ng mekanismong panglokal na pagkasunduan ng kapwa AFP at ng MILF, liban sa Pangkalahatang Kasunduan sa Pagtigil Hidwaan na napapaloob sa ilalim ng Usapang Pangkapayapaan, na maiwasan ang muling pagkakaroon ng malawakan o di kaya ay paulit-ulit na paglikas ng mga tao sa tuwing nagkakaroon ng armadong operasyon sa mga lugar na ito.

8. Ang patuloy na malawakang militarisasyon sa mga lugar na ito, na dati rati ay mapayapa, na patuloy na nakakaligalig sa aming pamumuhay.

9. Ang pagkaligalig at pangamba (trauma) na nadarama ng maraming mga bakwit, lalo na ang mga kabataan, ay nauuwi sa walang hangganang pagkabahala naming lahat.

Dahil sa mga kalagayang inilahad sa itaas, kami po ay nananawagan na:

1. Itigil na ang paulit-ulit na pagkakaroon ng armadong hidwaan doon sa mga komunidad dahil ang mga ito ay hindi lupang pinagdirigmaan, kundi lupang kinabubuhayan.

2. Itigil ang sapilitan pagpapalikas sa mga taong napinsala na ang gusto lamang ay mamuhay ng mapayapa sa kanilang mga tirahan at lupain.

3. Bigyan ng pagkakataon at malinaw na garantiya ang mga taong napinsala na makabalik sa kanilang mga lupain at maalis ng tuluyan ang pangambang maaaring mapilitan silang lumikas muli kung may panibagong armadong hidwaan dito.

4. Magkaroon ng mekanismong panglokal na mapagkasunduan ng kapwa AFP at MILF upang maiwasan ang muling pagkakaroon ng malawakan o di kaya ay paulit ulit na paglikas ng taong bayan sa tuwing nagkakaroon ng armadong operasyon sa mga lugar na ito.

5. Tugunan ang mga suliranin ng mga bakwit sa kalusugan, malnutrisyon, at pagkaligalig (trauma) sa lalong madaling panahon.

6. Buksang muli ang mga sinarang mga paaralan at ibigay ang kaukulang sahod ng mga guro nito upang makapagbalik-aral ang mga estudyante nito.

7. Tugunan ang pang ekonomiyang suliranin ng mga pamilyang napinsala ng mga armadong hidwaan upang sila ay mabigyan ng pagkakataong makatayong muli at matugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya.

8. Kumpunihin ng mga Barangay Roads na nasira o sira pa rin hanggang ngayon.

9. Respetuhin ang karapatang pantao ng mga mamamayang nakatira sa mga lugar na ito.
Ang hangad po lamang namin ay mabawi ang aming dating antas ng pamumuhay at mabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na maiangat namin ito. Hinihiling po namin ang katarungan, dahil ang katarungan namin ay katarungan para sa lahat na naghahangad ng malaya, mapayapa, at maunlad na lipunan.

Maraming Salamat at Wassalaam.

Nilagdaan ngayong ika 14 na araw ng Desyembre, 2007 dito sa Datu Dizal Cultural Center, Lamitan City, Basilan.

(Sgd.) TOTONG ESPALDON (Sgd.) BAJER NADDUA (Sgd.) HAMID KATARE

Bgy. Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Bohelubong, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Bohelubong, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) HABU HANAPI (Sgd.) RIZAL ASALI (Sgd.) ASNAWI HANDANI
Bgy. Kailih, Albarka Bgy. Semut, Sumisip Bgy. Cambug, Albarka
(Sgd.) JAINULLA A. JAHA (Sgd.) TONY HALUN (Sgd.) AMIR A. SULOR
Bgy. Guinanta, Albarka Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City Bgy. Cambug, Albarka
(Sgd.) HASIM A. MAULANA (Sgd.) ALAUDDIN AIRIL (Sgd.) HAPIKIN BIRONG
Bgy. Bato-Bato, Albarka Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar
(Sgd.) MAKSUD MAHMUD (Sgd.) ABDURAHMAN ANJAIP (Sgd.) PA-AT HAMJA
Bgy. Kailih, Albarka Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Kailih, Albarka
(Sgd.) BAYAN HASSAN (Sgd.) AHMAD HAMID (Sgd.) MARK S. HASSAN
Bgy. Magcawa, Albarka Bgy. Kailih, Albarka Bgy. Magcawa, Albarka
(Sgd.) JEUNUDIN ABDULLAH (Sgd.) H. ASMA TAHIR (Sgd.) NURAYA MAHMUD
Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City Bgy. Kailih, Albarka
(Sgd.) JAM Y. ALIH (Sgd.) JOHNNY BAWABATOT (Sgd.) HUSNA DAHIM
Bgy. Kailih, Albarka Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City Bgy. Bohelubong, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) HARUN ABUD (Sgd.) MUNIB AIRIL (Sgd.) MUSTAPHA BIRONG
Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar
(Sgd.) RAHIMA BIRONG (Sgd.) JUMANG ALAP (Sgd.) IBRAHIM CUEXAS
Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohelubong, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) TOMAS BORONG (Sgd.) NADZMA LAMLA (Sgd.) NASER JAILANI
Bgy. Danapah, Albarka Bgy. Danapah, Albarka Bgy. Banah, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) IBRAHIM BALANGKASI (Sgd.) MUNVIR SALATUN (Sgd.) SUHUD MUTTALIB
Bgy. Danapah, Albarka Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) H. ABDULLA GAPPAL (Sgd.) H. NASIR MUHMIN (Sgd.) JAMIR JALIL
Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) BUSRA JAALAL (Sgd.) DARWISA ASRAP (Sgd.) HALID MUKTAR
Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) ERWIN ALAMIN (Sgd.) LISTAIN MALANGKIS (Sgd.) H. SAUD OMAR
Bgy. Danapah, Albarka Bgy. Danapah, Albarka Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City
(Sgd.) IDRIS BIRONG (Sgd.) AUSIN H. GADJALUN (Sgd.) RUSININ ASNAWIE
Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Cambug, Albarka Bgy. Cambug, Albarka
(Sgd.) PIRGAW YUNUS (Sgd.) MUSAYYADA TAPSUIN (Sgd.) TAHARA RAHIB
Bgy. Cambug, Albarka Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) H. WAHAB HASAN (Sgd.) H. HUSIN HAPIB (Sgd.) H. SUAD NEWANI
Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) H. NUR-IN HASAN (Sgd.) H. NUR-IN SAPID (Sgd.) NASIR JAALIN
Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) H. ISMAIL BALLAKATU (Sgd.) SITTIE MARHA MAJUJAJILUN (Sgd.) SUHUD MUTTALIB
Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Danapah, Albarka Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) H. AHMAD WAHAB (Sgd.) LATIPA ANJANAL (Sgd.) BUIDDIMAN JALALUN
Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Limook, Lamitan City Bgy. Matibay, Lamitan City
(Sgd.) ABDULMUEEN YUSOPH (Sgd.) ASNAWI KALSUM (Sgd.) JUNAID ANJALIN
Bgy. Bato-Bato, Albarka Bgy. Bato-Bato, Albarka Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) MINADJALUN HUSSIN (Sgd.) MISTIRI TARAMI (Sgd.) ABIR MUTTALIB
Bgy. Tipo-Tipo Prop., Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Bohelubong, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
(Sgd.) PILOY NAYANG (Sgd.) MUNVIR SALATUN (Sgd.) H. LATIP ISMAIL
Bgy. Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City
(Sgd.) IDRIS ASNAWI (Sgd.) ISMAIL BALLABATO (Sgd.) SALIMA JAPLUL
Bgy. Cambug, Albarka Bgy. Bohebessey, Lamitan City Bgy. Macalang, Albarka
(Sgd.) SATTAH NISAL (Sgd.) ARHUMA JANALUN (Sgd.) HANAPI AIRIL
Bgy. Macalang, Albarka Bgy. Macalang, Albarka Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar
(Sgd.) HAISA HASAN (Sgd.) APSA RIZAL (Sgd.) MARAK ANJALIN
Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar
(Sgd.) IBNO ABUD (Sgd.) SURAY BIRONG (Sgd.) TANO CUEVAS
Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohebakung, Akbar Bgy. Bohelubong, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) JAMAL TOTONG (Sgd.) JOMAR TOTONG (Sgd.) OMAR MOHAWAN
Bgy. Tipo-Tipo Prop., Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Limbo Upas, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) NUAIM TOTONG (Sgd.) ABDILLAH AJULAL (Sgd.) JEMAR PISING
Bgy. Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Limbo Upas, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) WAIDZ ALAJAL (Sgd.) SAMIYAN ARIMBAY (Sgd.) HUJAY SANNANI
Bgy. Baguindan,Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Tipo-Tipo Prop., Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Tipo-Tipo Prop., Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) NORITHA TOTONG (Sgd.) HADI UNTIH (Sgd.) MUSIR NAYANG
Bgy. Tipo-Tipo Prop., Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo Bgy. Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo
(Sgd.) NASSER NUNA (Sgd.) SALI TAHALLANG (Sgd.) JULKIPLI ALIH
Lamitan City Lamitan City Bgy. Kailih, Albarka
(Sgd.) NURHIMA HAKIM (Sgd.) NASIR JAALIN (Sgd.) MUIDA HATAMAN
Bgy. Kuhon, Albarka Sumisip Sumisip
(Sgd.) HUSAYMA HATALAN (Sgd.) SALAMA TAALUL (Sgd.) RHAIDA AJALUL
Sumisip Sumisip Sumisip
(Sgd.) DIANA ABIAN (Sgd.) NUR-IYA JASIR (Sgd.) AJARA AKNALUN
Sumisip Sumisip Sumisip
(Sgd.) HALIMA GOGOL (Sgd.) FILWA MUCADDANI (Sgd.) BOBONG BANDING
Sumisip Sumisip Sumisip
(Sgd.) ISSEK ABULHASSAN (Sgd.) HALAPTUL ACLUL (Sgd.) IMELDA HATAMAN
Sumisip Bgy. Baiwas, Sumisip Sumisip
(Sgd.) HATTAN U. SAMPAD (Sgd.) KALAUI ABDULWAKIB (Sgd.) HAIRUL KASIM
Sumisip Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip
(Sgd.) A.H. JAHANAN (Sgd.) ABDULATI KASIM (Sgd.) JAIRA SULAIMAN
Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip
(Sgd.) IBRAHIM HAIN (Sgd.) MUNIM KASIM (Sgd.) H. RAPIH HAMID
Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip
(Sgd.) SARIDA SAHILUN (Sgd.) JAINA SULAIMAN (Sgd.) ASSAMIN HASIM
Bgy. Bohepiyang, Albarka Bgy. L. Sinangkapan, Sumisip Sumisip
(Sgd.) UBAID HASIM (Sgd.) KABIR KAJIH (Sgd.) GADJALI SAPPALUN
Sumisip Sumisip Bgy. Sampinit, Sumisip
(Sgd.) NASSER KASIM (Sgd.) ANIZA WAHAB (Sgd.) SALAMA ABBAS
Bgy. Sampinit, Sumisip Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar Bgy. Paguengan, Akbar
Nilagdaan sa harap nina:
(Sgd.) SAMMY P. MAULANA (Sgd.) NATHAN B. INSUNG
Secretary General Chairperson, Basilan Region
CBCS CBCS
(Sgd.) MASID YACOB (Sgd.) MUHTI ABDULLA
Lead Convenor Chairperson
Inter-CSO Care for Basilan Task Force Bantey Basilan –
CBCS Civilian Local Peacekeeping Force