Tri-People Mediators drive inclusivity in Conflict Resolution

“𝘎𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘰𝘴-𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘣𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳, 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯. 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯, 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢-𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪 𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘰𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘺𝘢 (𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦).” Mr. Abdullah L. Casim from Iranun Reconciliation Council (IRC), a local mediator and participant, sincerely said during the insightful sharing session of the training.

Around 40 local mediators from well-established and respected local mediator organizations in Maguindanao del Norte, namely the Iranun Reconciliation Council (IRC), Bangsamoro Mediators Inc. (BMI), Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG), Magungaya Organization for Peace and Development (MOPAD), Traditional Leaders from Kabuntalan (Mother) whom are composed of tri-people (Moro, Indigenous People (IP), and Settlers) actively participated in the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) “𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲”.

The activity was held from May 1 to 3, 2024, at the Greenleaf Hotel in General Santos City. Tri-people participation from MDN on the conduct of the training ensures that the mediation process reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences inherent in the community, thereby promoting inclusivity and fairness.

The training featured an in-depth exploration of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) legal frameworks. Extensive discussions on the ADR Act of 2004, complemented by insights into the Rules of Court on Mediation and the Rules of Procedure for Small Claims (A.M.No. 08-8-7 SC), were informatively led by Atty. Sapphira Dimalotang, Attorney IV of MPOS-BARMM.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘈 9285 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘋𝘙 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭.” Atty. Dimalotang profoundly discussed the institutionalization and usage of the alternative dispute resolution in the country.

This training program underscored the pivotal role played by mediators in navigating complex inter-community disputes. Through a meticulously curated curriculum, participants were equipped with advanced mediation techniques and strategies tailored to address the unique challenges prevalent in Maguindanao del Norte. By engaging individuals from different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, capacity development initiatives enrich the skillset of mediators with a deep understanding of the complexities and sensitivities surrounding conflict resolution in diverse societies.

Moreover, the training delved into multifaceted dimensions crucial for adept mediation, a topic expertly discussed by Mr. Mohamad Kuday, LPT, MAPD. This highlighted the paramount importance of cultural competency in mediation endeavors. By exploring the intricacies of cultural differences and their impact on conflicts and mediation processes—whether linguistic nuances or divergent social norms and values—mediators emerged equipped with the cultural acumen necessary for fostering mutual understanding and reconciliation.

“𝘚𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 (𝘐𝘗) 𝘴𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘰𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢 𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳.” Mr. Ruben A. Ramos from the Timuay Justice and Governance, an IP local mediator participant, shared in an interview .

Tri-people participation reinforces the values of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation, laying the foundation for sustainable peacebuilding efforts that address the multifaceted needs of all community members. By investing in the professional development of local mediators, MPOS-BARMM not only fortifies the institutional framework for conflict resolution but also nurtures a sense of empowerment within communities in the province of Maguindanao del Norte.

“𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 3𝘊𝘴. 𝘜𝘯𝘢, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘢, 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘰, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯. 𝘐𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘺𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘢 𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰. 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘸, 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘯. 𝘒𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯.” MPOS’ Community Affairs Officer of Maguindanao Provinces Rafsan Johnny Abdul said during the sharing session.

Currently, the capacity development for local mediators is also conducted in the provinces of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Maguindanao del Sur. It is organized by the Ministry’s Community Affairs Officers assigned in the Bangsamoro provinces under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Division (ADRD) under the Ministry’s flagship program “Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.” The recent undertaking of capacity development and skills trainings for the local mediators in the Bangsamoro provinces contributes to the establishment of a harmonious and resilient communities built on principles of unity and diversity thereby fostering an environment conducive to sustainable peace and development.

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