Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.

Kaangayan, Kalambuan, Kalinaw ... sa Mindanaw, sa Pilipinas, sa Kalibutan

EastMinCom CMO Unit officers complete Operation Peace Course (Op Kors!)

Twenty-five (25) officers from the various Civil Military Operations Units of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as representatives from the Philippine National Police, the 104th Infantry Brigade (1ID) and the National Democratic Institute finally completed the four-day Operation Peace Course facilitated by the International Center for Peace in Mindanaw (ICPeace) of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. last May 2.

These officers having the ranks of Lieutenant Colonels, Majors and Captains signify the convergence of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Navy at the Brigade and Division levels within the Eastern Mindanao Command.

The opening program was highlighted with the welcome speeches of Ms. Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya, the Chairperson of Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc., and Brig. Gen. Rolito Abad, the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID).

One of the most commended sessions in the course was with Lt. Gen. Raymundo B. Ferrer, the Commanding General of the Eastern Mindanao Command. He started by describing the landscape of Mindanao as like paradise but its image is a place of violence. He said that military operations alone will not solve the societal divide – there is a need for a new approach, and dialoguing is one of the basic approaches in understanding this divide. He then ended by presenting his vision of a peaceful and secure environment conducive to development. He said that “peace is so fragile, and so structures and mechanisms have to be built while we work through people’s minds (clarifying perceptions) and hearts (healing hurts). I see this as a challenge to strengthen local peace formations and coordination between the military and stakeholders”.

The re-entry plans made by each of the Divisions – 4ID, 6ID and 10ID -- that are based on the AFP CMO thrusts, objectives, and guidelines for 2009 were further enhanced by the integration or inclusion of local capacities for peace.

During the closing program, the participants provided the Balay Mindanaw with a sketch of their faces, and a poem citing their reflections and commitment to pursue peacebuilding initiatives in their respective areas of responsibility.

The OPKors! is a comprehensive peace building course that, among others, aims at enhancing capacities of peacebuilders in Mindanao. It also aims at developing and multiplying champions of peace in various sectors in the society.

With Col. Julieto Duallo Ando, the U7 of the Eastern Mindanao Command, next steps were identified to further/replicate the experience to the other levels of command inside the East Mindanao Command that includes Regions 10, 11,12, the Caraga, and part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, particularly Maguindanao.