NGO, CSO & Army Meet to Address IDPs

Iligan City (12 October) Non-Government and Civil Society Organizations with military authorities met Saturday to discuss the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Lanao Provinces.

The consultation and dialogue initiated by the Institute of Peace and Development for Mindanao of MSU-IIT focused on “How Best to Address the Welfare of Maranaw IDPs and Other Issues and Concerns Related to the Recent Resumption of Conflicts in Lanao.” This was held in Elena Tower Inn and facilitated by Professors Malou Nanaman and Saturnina “Bebot” Rodil. The meeting was one of the series to bridge actions among sectors and institutions in contributing to stability to various communities.

The engaging dialogue raised various issues and concerns of the effects of the on-going hostilities on affected communities. The general clamor during the forum was to put an end to the hostilities. It, likewise, revealed that NGOs and CSOs found it challenging to assist the displaced individuals not only due to the prevailing security situation but also due to the inaccessibility of local executives. Another dilemma was in locating and supporting the IDPs evacuating particularly in Lanao del Sur who chose staying with their relatives than at evacuation sites. Some sectors also claimed that the lack of support for IDPs in Lanao del Sur is attributed to the non-declaration of the province as a calamity area. Moreover, the discussions also exposed an emerging concern, posing another challenge to local administrators, on the developing preference among IDPs to stay in evacuation sites owing to free food and better shelter.

For the part of the military, Colonel Benito de Leon, the Commander of 104^th Infantry Brigade based in Lanao del Norte, informed the participants that his forces while still are running after the rogue band of Bravo are also currently assisting local executives and other sectors in facilitating the return of those displaced by the hostilities in Lanao del Norte. He assured the participants that the military will always ensure the safety and well-being of civilians even as they pursue the lawless groups. He urged the NGOs and CSOs to coordinate or discuss with the military their concerns, especially on security, so as to identify areas where they could cooperate on. He emphasized that one of the military’s priorities is to also assist in establishing the return of normal conditions in the area at the soonest possible time.

Hostilities in the Lanao Provinces erupted following the rampage of the Lawless MILF Group led by Abdullah Makapaar aka Bravo in the coastal towns of Lanao del Norte last 18 August. The military was tasked to assist in the law enforcement operations against Bravo’s group. The ensuing skirmishes between the armed groups resulted in a number of IDPs. Various NGOs and CSOs came in to attend to those displaced by the conflict in addition to the similar efforts by the concerned government agencies.