On June 14-15, 2023, the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) trained 75 former combatants on peacebuilding concepts through the Ministry’s Peacebuilding Towards Normalization Program dubbed as “Peacebuilding Training for Former Combatants”. The training aims to capture the participants’ “Journey of Life”, apprise them on the updates of the peace process, and capacitate them on how to further build a culture of peace in their communities. The activity took place at the Em Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato City.
During the event, MPOS Deputy Minister, Hon. Abdulkudos Balitoc, expressed his optimism and gratitude to the participants for their active participation, “𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰, 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘯.” Deputy Minister Balitoc said on his opening message.
The program provided a safe environment and an opportunity for the participants to share their personal experiences, narratives, and insights as former combatants. It also served as a platform for expressing their willingness and commitment to continue the work for peace.
The participants were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) from the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and the Special Geographic Area of the region.
During the training, one of the participants expressed his gratitude for MPOS-BARMM’s peacebuilding efforts to assist them in their community reintegration. “𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘔𝘗𝘖𝘚 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘪.”
After the peacebuilding training, the participants received financial assistance worth Php 10,000 each. This is a bridging fund to supplement their livelihood and augment their urgent needs. Prior to the training, the recipients underwent consultations, beneficiary profiling, and needs-based assessment conducted by the Ministry.
This training program is part of the Ministry’s commitment to sustain the gains of the peace process in the region.
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