BASILAN – Sixty five (65) local mediators from different conflict settler groups in Basilan participated in a two-day capacity building intervention conducted by the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) on August 25-26.
Participants are members of the academe and religious sectors, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Bantay Basilan, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), and Supreme Ulama Council.
With funding support from the office of Member of Parliament (MP) Abdulmuhmin Mujahid, the activity aimed to build stronger partnership with the local mediators, and equip them with basic knowledge and skills in negotiation mediation.
MP Mujahid provided updates on rido (family feud) settlements in Basilan, and said that although it still exists, it is way more under control now compared to the past years.
“Ang rido sa Basilan ay hindi na ganun kalala tulad ng dating mga nakaraang taon, may mga rido parin tayo dito pero hindi na tulad ng dati,” Mujahid said.
He also mentioned that it is Bangsamoro Government’s goal for the region to be a firearms-free community in the future.
“Even if it is a long way process for the BARMM government, BARMM’s mission is to (assure) no more civilians will be holding firearms and ensure the peace and order,” Mujahid said.
Atty. Alman Najar Namla, Provincial Director of ths Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) recognized the efforts of MPOS in helping eradicate human rights abuses in the provinces and in the region as a whole.
“I have always believed that when you work in the government, you work for the human rights of your people… Our brothers and sisters here (in the MPOS) work for the human rights to security,” he said.
“And you as local mediators, you work for that ‘kapatut sumanyang (right to comfort)’ and ‘kapatut pa kahanungan (right to peace)’,”he added.
“As you can see, MPOS and the BHRC have a shared commitment involved in the ‘kapatut sin Bangsamoro (rights of the Bangsamoro)’,” said Atty. Namla.
MPOS Director General Atty. Al-Rashid Balt was also present during the activity to answer queries from the participants. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
