The Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) in partnership with the Office of Former Member of the Parliament, now Provincial Governor of Maguindanao del Norte, Hon. Abdulraof Macacua Office conducted a peacebuilding training and distribution of financial assistance to sixty (60) widows of fallen MILF members. The program was held on April 3-4, 2024 at Em Manor Hotel, Cotabato City, BARMM.
Ms. Cairia A. Fernando, a widow of a Mujahideen when asked on how she will support peace in her community, said that, “𝘎𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘢𝘺𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘰𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘰 𝘬𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘬. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘵𝘰.”
The participants underwent a series of lecture and discussion from esteemed resource persons on peacebuilding such as “Islamic Concept of Moderation” by Ustadza Jihan Batiting, and “Role of Women in Peacebuilding” by Ustdza Anisa Taha, both from Women Tarbiyyah Council. Furthermore, this program served as an opportunity and avenue to discuss their experiences and aspirations as martyred widows.
After the peacebuilding training and workshops, participants received Php 20,000 (twenty thousand) pesos worth of financial assistance as support for their livelihood and transition to a conflict-free community. Moreover, the conduct of this program is one of the government’s commitments to sustain the gains of Bangsamoro peacebuilding towards normalization.
