Tingog Mamasapano Report

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TINGOG MAMASAPANO (VOICES FROM MAMASAPANO):

Listening to the Voices of Civilians Caught in the Crossfire

A Womens Solidarity Mission by Mindanao CSOs with the support of Oxfam

February 2015

Background Aside from the 44 police officers from the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), there were also 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and 5 civilians who were killed during the 11-hour firefight between the PNP-SAF with members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangay Tukanalipao in the town of Mamasapano, Maguindanao on 25 January 2015. As of the last report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on 29 January, there were 6,620 individuals/1,324 families displaced because of the clash in Mamasapano who were staying in 6 host communities.

Mamasapano is a 5th class municipality in the province of Maguindanao, Southern Philippines. The town is a mix of plain lands and swamps. It lies beside the Kabunlan River, and is close to the Liguasan Marsh, making the town prone to flooding. It has a total land area of 85.31 square kilometers, and a population of 22,354 as of May 2010. It has 14 barangays, including Barangay Tukanalipao, where the clash happened. The town was carved out from the municipality of Shariff Aguak during a plebiscite in 1998.

Mindanao women CSO leaders listen to Bidarya Adam, one of the many women from Mamasapano who spent most of her life witnessing the atrocities of armed conflicts, during the Tingog Mamasapano Solidarity Mission. 11 February 2015.

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The children of Mamasapano show their letters for President

Aquino. 11 February 2015

Since 1997, a ceasefire mechanism under the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), has been effectively been in place, with the ceasefire holding for the last three years, from 2012-2014, with not a single skirmish occurring between the government military and MILF forces. As a result of the Mamasapano clash, the deliberations on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, the result of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF, which will establish the Bangsamoro as the new political entity, has been further postponed with a number of legislators withdrawing their sponsorship of the bill. The more troubling result is the call for an all-out war in the Bangsamoro areas, again. These calls have been largely influenced by the national media and opinion makers like the former President. The deep-seated biases of the Filipino public in general against the Muslims are coming out again.

Tingog Mamasapano Tingog Mamasapano was organised as a womens solidarity and listening mission to surface the unheard voices of civilians, especially women and children, caught in the crossfire. This was our first small step towards sifting through the Mamasapano encounter that claimed the lives of so many people, including a 5-year old girl; and listening to the various narratives and surfacing key insights that would hopefully prevent a similar event from ever happening again. On 11 February, women CSO leaders visited the village of Tukanalipao in Mamasapano to talk to the women evacuees and listen to different story tellers. There were focus group discussions and/or one-on-one sessions between the women CSO leaders and the women civilians to generate stories of the communitys experiences before, during and after the clash. There were also stress debriefing and other peace activities done with the children of Mamasapano. The children also produced letters addressed to President Benigno Simeon Aquino calling for peace in their land. (See http://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htm)

The mission was not meant to find fault or determine who was responsible for the clash, but, it was meant to surface the impact of the clash on the civilians, particularly women and children, and to amplify the calls of the communities that war is not an option and to continue the peace process. We needed to quickly distill and learn from the lessons of Mamasapano to counter the repercussions and ensure that we are not deterred from the path of peace.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htmhttp://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htmhttp://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htmhttp://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htm

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The mission was also a venue to generate stories that can be used for the media, advocacy and communications products (e.g., feature stories, op-ed pieces, etc.) to counter the calls for an all out war, and to continue the peace process that is now in peril. A number of stories of the civilians, especially women and children, caught in the crossfire have been produced, and disseminated through mainstream and social media, and are now part of the public discourse. As a result, there has been a shift in the coverage from one that is purely focused on the police/military aspect, to the effects of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children. Tingog Mamasapano was also done to help rebuild the eroding public support to the to the peace process that has affected the Congressional deliberations on the BBL, and consequently stalling the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Prior to the actual mission, the participants in the Solidarity Mission underwent a briefing session with the Center of Psychological Extension and Research Services (COPERS) of Ateneo de Davao University on 10 February 2015. This session prepared the women CSO leaders to be effective listeners. They were also given tips on how to handle respondents emotions. This was followed by a security briefing. After the Listening Mission, the participants were convened for debriefing and reporting. Everyone was given the opportunity to share his/her reflections to the entire group. The body also identified the next steps, particularly the urgent issues that need action. These include the following:

Relief goods to be coordinated with ARMM HEART, Regional DSWD

Emergency Food Security and Livelihood

Psychosocial Support c/o Balay Rehabilitation Center

Documentation of Human Rights Violations c/o Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

Clearing of Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) to be coordinated with Foundation Suisse de Deminage France (FSD)/Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL)

All Out Peace campaign/Compilation of stories and reflections of Mission participants to be consolidated by Peace Builders Community, Inc.

The participants to the Listening Mission also issued a statement calling for all out peace, echoing the voices of the Mamasapano folks. (See attached Mission Statement).

Participating Organisations There were several participating organisations that joined the actual mission, while some were involved during the planning and preparatory period.

Balay Mindanao Foundation, Inc. (BMFI)

Balay Rehabilitation Center

Center of Psychological Extension and Research Services (COPERS) of Ateneo de Davao

Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)

Forum ZfD

Friends of the Bangsamoro

I-Emergence

Inter-Cultural Organisations Network for Solidarity and Peace (ICON-SP)

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Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. (KFI)

Lanao Peace Partners Network

Maranao People Development Center, Inc. (MARADECA)

Mindanao Action for Peace and Development (MAPAD)

Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE)

Mindanao CSO Solidarity Platform for Peace (MCSOPP)

Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW)

Mindanao Peoples Caucus

Nisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro

Non-Violent Peace Force

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)

Peace Builders Community, Inc. (PBCI)

Peoples Coalition for ARMM Reform and Transformation (Peoples CART)

Rural Development Institute of Sultan Kudarat

Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN)

SIAD in Mindanao Convergence for Asset Reform and Regional Development (SIMCARRD)

Special Union of Pre-Amateur Radio Modulators Association Base, Inc. (Supra BASE)

Sustainable Cooperation for Equitable Enterprise Development, Inc. (SUCCEED, Inc.)

Sustainable Education and Enterprise Development Foundation in Mindanao, Inc. (SEED)

Women Engaged in Action for 1325 (WE Act 1325)

United Youth of the Philippines Women (UnYPhil-Women)

Akbayan Youth

Community preparations for Tingog Mamasapano were done in partnership with UnYPhil Women, while WE Act 1325 and Mindanao Peace Weavers helped with the programme. OPAPP assisted in the coordination for the security arrangements with the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The activity was also closely coordinated with the local government officials of Mamasapano, through Mayor Tahirodin Benzar Ampatuan; and the Office of the ARMM Regional Governor, through Governor Mujiv Hataman and Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, and the staff of ARMM HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team). Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. (KFI) generously offered the use of their conference room for the debriefing and press conference. Tingog Mamasapano was also adopted as part of the activities for the All Out Peace campaign, a platform where citizens take a stand for peace and reject war or any form of armed violence.

Media Hits Tingog Mamasapano generated extensive media coverage (mainstream TV and newspapers, online media outlets and radio) from 11-20 February 2015. VIDEOS 11 February 2015

TV Patrol (early evening news of ABS CBN) may be accessed through iWantTV or http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/tvpatrol

Bandila (late evening news of ABS CBN)

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11 February 2015 may be accessed through iWantTV or http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/bandila

TV Patrol Central Mindanao 11 February 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQja-bV_w-Q

12 February 2015

24 Oras (early evening news of GMA Network) http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/260778/24oras/mga-naulila-ng-milf-members-at-sibilyang-nasawi-sa-mamasapano-naglabas-ng-hinanakit

Bangsamoro Ngayon: Tinig ng Kapayapaan (Bangsamoro Today: Voices for Peace) Radio Program of Kutawato Multimedia Network (KuMuNet) DXMS 882 www.ustream.tv/channel/dxms882

PRINT and ON LINE 12 February 2015

Mamasapano women, children caught in crossfire still suffering ABS CBN News http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/12/15/mamasapano-women-children-caught-crossfire-still-suffering

Residents of Tukanalipao fear ammos left behind ABS CBN News http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/12/15/residents-tukanalipao-fear-ammos-left-behind

Caught in the crossfire, Mamasapano folk call for peace GMA News http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/433930/news/nation/caught-in-the-crossfire-mamasapano-folk-call-for-peace

Women also victims of Mamasapano massacre Manila Times http://www.manilatimes.net/women-also-victims-of-mamasapano-massacre/162640/

Affected Mamasapano civilians also have their stories to tell Mindanao women leaders call on media, government http://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/affected-mamasapano-civilians-also-have-their-stories-to-tell-mindanao-women-leaders-call-on-media-government.htm

13 February 2015

Widows of slain Moro rebels, civilians air grief, anger in listening session Mindanews http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/02/13/widows-of-slain-moro-rebels-civilians-air-grief-anger-in-listening-session/

The Front Lines of Mamasapano Rappler

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/bandilahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQja-bV_w-Qhttp://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/260778/24oras/mga-naulila-ng-milf-members-at-sibilyang-nasawi-sa-mamasapano-naglabas-ng-hinanakithttp://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/260778/24oras/mga-naulila-ng-milf-members-at-sibilyang-nasawi-sa-mamasapano-naglabas-ng-hinanakithttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/dxms882http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/12/15/mamasapano-women-children-caught-crossfire-still-sufferinghttp://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/12/15/mamasapano-women-children-caught-crossfire-still-sufferinghttp://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/12/15/residents-tukanalipao-fear-ammos-left-behindhttp://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/12/15/residents-tukanalipao-fear-ammos-left-behindhttp://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/433930/news/nation/caught-in-the-crossfire-mamasapano-folk-call-for-peacehttp://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/433930/news/nation/caught-in-the-crossfire-mamasapano-folk-call-for-peacehttp://www.manilatimes.net/women-also-victims-of-mamasapano-massacre/162640/http://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/affected-mamasapano-civilians-also-have-their-stories-to-tell-mindanao-women-leaders-call-on-media-government.htmhttp://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/affected-mamasapano-civilians-also-have-their-stories-to-tell-mindanao-women-leaders-call-on-media-government.htmhttp://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/02/13/widows-of-slain-moro-rebels-civilians-air-grief-anger-in-listening-session/http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/02/13/widows-of-slain-moro-rebels-civilians-air-grief-anger-in-listening-session/

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http://www.rappler.com/nation/83811-front-lines-mamasapano

The Widow of Mamasapano Rappler http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/83716-mamasapano-widow-bangsamoro

'We want Peace' says the mother of Mamasapano Sunstar http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/opinion/2015/02/13/valle-we-want-peace-says-mother-mamasapano-392084

Widows of slain rebels, civilians in Mamasapano carnage speak up Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation http://www.ndbcnews.com.ph/news/widows-of-slain-rebels-civilians-in-mamasapano-carnage-speak-up

Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters challenge Aquino, lawmakers in war if BBL not passed Asian Journal http://asianjournal.com/news/bangsamoro-islamic-freedom-fighters-challenge-aquino-lawmakers-in-war-if-bbl-not-passed/

14 February 2015

Usman wounded, still hiding in Maguindanao Philippine Star http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2015/02/14/1423536/usman-wounded-still-hiding-maguindanao

Mamasapano Clash: Civilian Victims Cry for Help, Peace Mindanao Cross http://balitapinoy.net/clients/balitapinoy/14FEB14.pdf

15 February 2015

Blood-soaked town cries for peace Philippine Daily Inquirer (also appeared on page A18 of PDI) http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/672971/blood-soaked-town-cries-for-peace

A billion times to celebrate heart's day

Sunstar Davao

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/opinion/2015/02/15/valle-billion-times-celebrate-hearts-day-

392275

16 February 2015

Between friends: Tingog Mamasapano and the peace process Zamboanga Times http://www.zamboangatimes.ph/zamboangatimes/opinions/14120--between-friends-tingog-mamasapano-and-the-peace-process.html

Kids speak out: Grade-school children from Brgy. Tukanalipao, Mamasapano have these messages to the world http://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htm

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/83716-mamasapano-widow-bangsamorohttp://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/opinion/2015/02/13/valle-we-want-peace-says-mother-mamasapano-392084http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/opinion/2015/02/13/valle-we-want-peace-says-mother-mamasapano-392084http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2015/02/14/1423536/usman-wounded-still-hiding-maguindanaohttp://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2015/02/14/1423536/usman-wounded-still-hiding-maguindanaohttp://balitapinoy.net/clients/balitapinoy/14FEB14.pdfhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/672971/blood-soaked-town-cries-for-peacehttp://www.zamboangatimes.ph/zamboangatimes/opinions/14120--between-friends-tingog-mamasapano-and-the-peace-process.htmlhttp://www.zamboangatimes.ph/zamboangatimes/opinions/14120--between-friends-tingog-mamasapano-and-the-peace-process.htmlhttp://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htmhttp://www.oxfamblogs.org/philippines/kids-speak-out-grade-school-children-from-brgy-tukanalipao-mamasapano-have-these-messages-to-the-world.htm

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18 February 2015

The Mourners of Mamasapano Rappler http://www.rappler.com/nation/mourners-mamasapano-milf-saf

20 February 2015

After Mamasapano, children of Tukanalipao wish to end war, continue schooling InterAksyon http://www.interaksyon.com/article/105491/after-mamasapano-children-of-tukanalipao-wish-to-end-war-continue-schooling

Caught Within the Crossfire https://www.tumblr.com/search/raffy%20tima

http://www.rappler.com/nation/mourners-mamasapano-milf-safhttp://www.interaksyon.com/article/105491/after-mamasapano-children-of-tukanalipao-wish-to-end-war-continue-schoolinghttp://www.interaksyon.com/article/105491/after-mamasapano-children-of-tukanalipao-wish-to-end-war-continue-schoolinghttps://www.tumblr.com/search/raffy%20tima

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Mission Statement

Tingog Mamasapano

A CALL FOR ALL-OUT PEACE

Echoing the Voices from the Affected Communities

We, participants of the solidarity and listening mission Tingog Mamasapano, went to Barangay Tukanalipao of

Mamasapano, Maguindanao on February 11 to surface the unheard voices of civilians caught in the crossfire of

the Jan. 25 clash between Moro rebels and troops belonging to the Philippine National Polices Special Action

Force (PNP-SAF).

We especially listened to women and children who are particularly vulnerable to situations of violence and

conflict.

Per report of our mission partner, United Youth of the Philippines-Women (Unyphil-Women), more than a

thousand families have been displaced by the recent outbreak of hostilities between government forces and

Moro rebels.

Such number is just a trickle compared to previous experiences of massive displacements. But this recent bout

with evacuation due to armed hostilities has shaken the communitys confidence on the promise of a peaceful

and prosperous future ahead of them; a promise underpinned by the peace process between government and

the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

This is saddening given that Barangay Tukanalipao and its neighboring villages have come a long way in rising

from the ashes of a yearlong war that began August 2008 because of the aborted Moro homeland deal, and

other previous wars fought to advance the idea of Moro self-determination.

Today, three weeks after the tragic incident, there is still pervading unease and uncertainty among the

Mamasapano folks. This feeling of unease and uncertainly is reinforced by the dominance in the public

discourse of voices wanting more blood, which has fed into the national agenda-setting exercise a war-slanted

frame.

Unease and uncertainty are further aggravated by the macho declarations of national legislators whom the

Mamasapano folks said they expected to help clarify to them the unfortunate incident rather than inflame the

situation with their demagoguery.

We therefore understood why many families still refused to permanently relocate back to their homes,

especially those living in the interior parts of Tukanalipao village. Adding to their worries is the sighting of

materials believed to be unexploded ordnance in their farms and backyards.

In our intent conversations with community folks, we gathered various tales of human rights violations

allegedly committed at the height of the skirmishes. One is the account about at least ten families who were

held at gunpoint by the police commandos for some 10 hours. Accordingly, they were not allowed to even

cook food throughout the entire ordeal.

Another tragic tale is that of Sarah Lawani, 20, who lost his husband, 23-year old Badrudin Langalan due to the

hostilities. According to Sarah, Badrudin set out to graze their carabao early morning of Jan. 25, planning to

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also drop by the village market to charge his phone. He was not seen until the next day. When found, Badrudin

lay dead in the fields, hogtied, and his body bore marks of torture. The backpack that Badrudin carried with

him was also lost.

We therefore ask the PNP leadership, the Commission on Human Rights, and other agencieswhether

government or nongovernmentmandated to promote and protect human rights, to look into these

disturbing tales. Those responsible must be held to account.

We are at a crucial crossroad in our countrys history. In times like this, we need more circumspect and sober

thinking, not a visceral response that unduly panders on the grief of the families of the victims.

We have come afar in our shared journey to peace in Mindanao, and have learned enough lessons in our quest

to exorcise the ghost of a bloody past. Today, we are emboldened to affirm the essence of our work as peace

advocates.

Echoing the voices of the Mamasapano folks, we say that at no other times is the call for out-out peace as

needed and timely. Let us persevere in beating the drums of peace and tirelessly trumpet hope for Mindanao

and the rest of the country.

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SOME SELECTED STORIES FROM THE PARTICIPANTS OF TINGOG MAMASAPANO From Peace Builders Community, Inc.

They, too, call out for peace. #tingogMamasapano #alloutpeace #PeaceTayo A story of a widow, a mother and a civilian caught in the crossfire. The day before the incident happened, it was just a normal day for Babu Pokan a widow and a mother to five. Babu was weaving ikam (mats) since she stopped working at the farm three years ago. Her body could not do it anymore. She sells the single mat for 30 pesos in their market. No hint or feeling that something is going to happen as what she had told us. At the early dawn of January 25, 2015, she was sleeping when she suddenly heard firing. She wasnt certain what time it was, but she said that it was early in the morning and people were still sleeping. Fear immediately clouded in her and she instinctively packed her belongings. With all the adrenalin rushing in her, she was able to lift heavy things. She couldnt imagine capable of doing that on a normal setting. Together with her 2 children, they rushed outside their house. With nowhere to go, they just stayed and fell asleep along the highway. Babu Pokan said they werent able to eat up until noon. They didnt know what to do because they didnt have any clue what just happened. They were all afraid, hungry and disoriented. This was the worst thing that ever happened in Tukanalipao according to her. : They were able to go home at around night time. Since the incident, it has been a sleepless and fearful night for them. Many times, with just small sounds or a sound of a vehicle coming they would wake up easily and feel afraid. It has been 17 days and their lives have not been back to normal. When she tries to weave again for her to sell and to support her family, she couldnt do it. Her hands are still shaking from what happened. She showed us her old and wrinkled hands. During the interview, she kept on glancing around and looked so anxious. She told us if she hears some blasting whether shes just imagining or not, it makes her stomach churn. Babu Pokan said nobody wanted that to happen. Herself, her family and everybody in the community especially the children, want peace. The incident cost so much of their livelihood and brought so much pain and fear.

From PBCI

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tingogmamasapano?source=feed_text&story_id=10153185232234866https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/alloutpeace?source=feed_text&story_id=10153185232234866https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/peacetayo?source=feed_text&story_id=10153185232234866

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Dala taw a dili malilini sa kalilintad na enged. Nya ta bon kapangilay na kalilintad no dalpa (Everybody wants peace. We want to seek peace here in our community) - Babu Pokan Panga, 48. From Peace Builders Community, Inc.

They, too, need healing. This is a story of a 20 year-old widow.#TingogMamasapano #AllOutPeace #PeaceTayo Sara Lawani-Langalen and her husband Badrudin Langalen were getting ready for harvest season. They were living peacefully in Mamasapano with farming as their main livelihood. On the early hours of January 25, after the morning prayers, Badrudin decided to go the market to charge his cell phone. For the harvesting season, they temporarily stayed in a hut near the cornfields. They have no electricity there. So after tending their carabao, with his bag containing his cell phone and flashlight, he took off towards the market where power is available. He was on his bicycle. When she first heard the gunshots, Sarah thought of only one thing- the safety of her daughters. She cleared the hut with both her one year old and three year old daughter and hastily ran to the docking site of the river boats. Her grandmother was thankfully already there and together, they walked along the river to reach a safer place. Some soldiers riding a boat saw them and asked them why they are still there and tried to stop them from leaving. They did not listen and escaped anyway. They wouldn't dare think what would have happened if they stayed. They left early in the morning, but were only able to reach the safe houses by noon. Around that time, Sara believed that her husband also got to a safe place since he was already on his way to the market. He would have gotten to the evacuation areas faster riding his bike. But evening came and her husbands absence is still apparent. Her doubts were turning into anxiety as she contacted his parents and the people who may have known his whereabouts. Still, her husband was nowhere to be found. It was in the morning of January 26 when Saras mother broke the news. Her husband was dead. His corpse was retrieved among the bodies of the SAF soldiers. He was found mutilated, his arms bound behind him with

From PBCI

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tingogmamasapano?source=feed_text&story_id=10153187773884866https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/alloutpeace?source=feed_text&story_id=10153187773884866https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/peacetayo?source=feed_text&story_id=10153187773884866

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plastic cords. His face was unrecognizable. They confirmed his identity because of the blue long-sleeved blouse and the black shorts he was wearing when he was last seen. Only his bicycle was retrieved among all of his belongings. His own cousins buried him. Sara was not there for the burial rites. She only saw the marker where her husbands body was buried. Seeing his grave, it struck her- she was left a widow at the age of 20. The pain she felt was unbearable. Badrudin was innocent. He just a civilian. He had nothing to do with the encounter. But why did they still kill him? She could not understand why he was slain like an animal. She could not imagine herself raising her two daughters alone. She could not even begin to process how they are going to survive in the future with her husband gone. In her whole life living in Mamasapano, she had never experienced something as worse as that ordeal. Their peaceful life has been disturbed. Saras parents are now supporting and helping her raise her daughters. There was government aid amounting to Php 50,000 , but for Sarah it felt like it was some kind of compensation for her husbands life. No amount of money could take him back. But it could help them start up their livelihood and pay his husbands debts. According to their culture, the soul could not rest when debts are left unpaid. She made sure her husband could rest peacefully. Her 3 year old daughter, Sadia, is now aware of the absence of her father. The SAF soldiers killed him. Hearing the term soldier from grown-ups would cause her to fuss or to pinch the person who uttered the word. Seeing her fathers bicycle without his presence would send her in a bout of tears, her cries calling out for him. At the raw of age 3, as she is learning her first ABCs and 123s, she is also learning of war, death and pain. When we asked Sara about her hope for the future, she expressed how she felt helpless, not knowing what to do or think. Her mind was blank. Only the memory of pain dominated her being. She was still in deep mourning. For her it may be unbearable, but prayer had been her solace- her source of strength. Prayer has kept her on her feet. What she prays for is for the experience to never happen again, for healing, and especially for truth and peace to prevail.

From Memen Lauzon of WE Act 1325 CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

Totoy bilisan mo, bilisan mo ang takbo

Ilagan ang mga balang nakatutok sa ulo mo

Totoy tumalon ka, dumapa kung kailangan

At baka tamaan ka ng mga balang ligaw

Totoy makinig ka, wag kang magpa-gabi

Baka mapagkamalan ka't humandusay diyan sa

tabi

Totoy alam mo ba kung ano ang puno't dulo

Ng di matapos-tapos na kaguluhang ito

- Tatsulok by Buklod

The preceding quote from lyrics (of a popular OPM) might as well provide an unheard-of but telling account of

what also transpired in Mamasapano. The real situation that befell the civilians came to be vivid in my mind

with the stories told by the women in Mamasapano during a Solidarity and Listening Mission on February 11,

2015.

Fatima Allian of Nisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro and Memen Lauzon of

WE Act 1325 during Tingog Mamasapano. 11 Feb 2015

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Consider this scenario...

It was early in the morning while the sky was still dark, Badrudin told his wife Sara that he was heading to the

market to have his mobile phone charged and attend to their cow. Shortly thereafter she heard the shooting

and intense fire fight which led her to scamper to safety taking her two small children with her. The day came

to end without him ever returning home. It was later learned that he was one of those killed along with the

SAF commandos at the dreaded cornfield. Stories went around that on his way out he must have seen the

armed SAF, was accosted and brought along to the cornfield either to serve as a guide or to be prevented from

alerting others in the community about the presence of the SAF. Community members who have buried him

reported that his hands were tied at the back with a plastic cable tie.

It was obvious that Badrudin was a victim of the armed conflict. What the man suffered was not a mere case of

one getting caught in the crossfire. A clear violation of human rights was committed against him. That her

husband was a civilian was what Sara insisted. When he left home that early dawn of January 25, he was

unarmed carrying only a backpack with a flashlight. With what happened there was no way that his human

rights as a civilian was protected and upheld.

And then this...

A grandmother taking care of her eight grandchildren woke up early morning finding their community

surrounded by armed men, who turned out to be police forces conducting operations to arrest terrorists

hiding in nearby area. They were held at gunpoint, prevented from leaving the place. No amount of pleading

worked for them to be allowed to evacuate. The children were hungry but were not allowed to eat while the

SAF forces took all their 18 chickens and roasted them for their own meals that day. They were held until an

order came from higher officials past five in the afternoon for them to run for safety to a nearby barangay

center. The grandmothers right foot is swollen for two weeks as she tripped while running for ones life along

with her children and grandchildren with the youngest a three-year-old. One grandchild who endured

abdominal pains and diarrhea is yet to fully recover. Her family remains displaced to this day along with nine

other households who left for the evacuation area on January 25. Her husband returned to their house the

following day of the incident to find out it was in shambles with missing kitchen utensils he wishes that could

still be retrieved. She said their neighbors managed to go home to their place during the day and be back

before night time at the evacuation area. But in her case, they cannot go back as there are no longer vegetable

farm and animals to tend; her husband tries to eke out a living with a motorbike whenever theres chance

(Nag-e-extra sa motor).

Consider this too...

After hours of intense exchange of fire, it was finally quiet and a mother thought the fighting had stopped. In

the morning, she asked his 15-year-old son to check on their cow out in the field. The son was shot and

wounded and was brought to the hospital with a bullet taken from his side. Tinamaan ng ligaw na bala, so

people said. As his son waits to recover, his mother struggles from the pain of seeing her son having difficulty

moving about and aching from the wound. She wants all the violence in their community to stop. All she is

appealing for is peace - in their minds, in their hearts and in their community.

Under the International Humanitarian Law or the Law of Armed Conflict, rights of civilian population must be

protected at all times. The Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to

the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 8 June 1977, states in Part II

Humane Treatment, Article 4 Fundamental Guarantees:

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1. All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or

not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions

and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse

distinction. It is prohibited to order that there shall be no survivors.

2. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following acts against the persons referred

to in paragraph 1 are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever:

(a) violence to the life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as

well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment;

(b) collective punishments;

(c) taking of hostages;

(d) acts of terrorism;

(e) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, rape, enforced

prostitution and any form or indecent assault;

(f) slavery and the slave trade in all their forms;

(g) pillage;

(h) threats to commit any or the foregoing acts.

Further, Part IV Civilian Population, Article 13 on Protection of the civilian population:

1. The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against the dangers

arising from military operations. To give effect to this protection, the following rules shall be

observed in all circumstances.

2. The civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts

or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian

population are prohibited.

3. Civilians shall enjoy the protection afforded by this part, unless and for such time as they take a direct

part in hostilities.

Republic Act 9851 which is the Philippines domestic International Humanitarian Law, states in Chapter III

Crimes against IHL, genocide and other crimes against humanity, Section 4 (b) In case of a non-international

armed conflict, serious violations of common Article 3 to the four (4) Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,

namely, any of the following acts committed against persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including

member of the armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness,

wounds, detention or any other cause;

(1) Violence to life and person, in particular, wilful killings, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;

(2) Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;

(3) Taking of hostages; and

(4) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a

regularly constituted court, affording all judicial guarantees which are generally recognized as indispensable.

No matter how the rules of war are observed, war is and will always be violent. War will always lead to

collateral damage. War will always affect the lives of civilians. War will always have civilians for casualties. War

is not the solution.

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Photo of Sara Lawani by CBCS

The stories above are not scenes in a war movie. The stories are real and culled from first-account narratives of

those who live in and are confronted with the difficulties of armed conflict for so many generations.

What right have we to judge and label them with our own prejudices and biases displacing rational thinking?

What right have we to promote hatred and animosity against a population who have lived and coped with the

violence of the gun and the armed conflict it entails?

What right have we to condemn them and prejudge them to be guilty of harbouring criminals or terrorists?

On this I wish to directly quote one of the women in Mamasapano:

Lahat kami ay nabulabog nang makita namin ang maraming armadong pulis noong umagang yon. Hindi

namin alam na mag-aaresto pala ng mga terorista, hindi namin alam na nandoon si Marwan at Usman,

nakilala lang namin sila sa TV. Wala kaming kinalaman sa kanila. Kung alam namin na nandun sila hindi kami

papayag.

From Manuel Domes of Forum ZfD Why not hold a Senate Hearing in #Mamasapano? Have them listen to the story of the twenty year old widow and mother of two who doesn't know how her family will make it after her husband, a farmer, was killed on January 25. Or to the family with a kid of three years who were held at gunpoint without food for ten hours. Or to those who can't return to their livelihoods because their livestock was killed and their lands and waters are tainted by corpses. Or to the woman who doesn't want to be interviewed anymore because she feels that no one outside writes about the civilian casualties. Or to those who still hope for peace and feel they would be doubly injured if the deaths in Mamasapano would also spell the death of the peace process. #venting

From Noraisa Abdulatip of CBCS

Si Sarah ay ipinanganak noong 1995 sa Mamasapano, siya ay 20 years old at asawa ni Badrudin Langalan (ang hinostage at walang awang pinatay ng SAF)ang pangunahing pangkabuhayan nilang mag asawa ay farming may dalawa silang anak na babae , si Sadia ay 3 taong gulang at si Samira ay 1 taong gulang. January 25 ng madaling umaga ayon sa pagkakwento ni Sarah, nag paalam ang kanyang asawa pagkatapos niyang mag pray ng Subuh (around 5a.m prayer) pupunta daw siya muna sa market site para mag charge ng kanyang celpon at the same time ililipat nya ang kanilang kalabaw sa pagkakatali. sinabihan ni Sarah ang kanyang asawa

ng sandali ka lng umalis ang kanyang asawa sakay ng kanyang bisikleta at dala dala ang bagpack na may lamang, celpon, flashlight . Dipa nakakaalis ang kanyang asawa nakakarinig na sila ng putukan. Nang makaalis ang kanyang asawa mayat maya lang nakarinig na siya ng sunod sunod na putukan. Habang pinapakain ang kanyang bunsong anak nagsimula na siya mangamba dahilan sa walang tigil na putukan na naririnig. Pilit niyang sinasabi sa kaniyang sarili na sa mga oras na iyon ay ang kanyang asawa ay nasa palengke na at nakakapag charge na, ni hindi sumagi sa isip niya na may nangyari sa kaniyang asawa.

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mamasapano?source=feed_text&story_id=10155200599395191https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/venting?source=feed_text&story_id=10155200599395191

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kasagsagan ng putukan umalis ang mag ina sapagkat nagsisipagtakbohan na ang mga kapitbahay nila. mataas na ang araw nagtago ang mag ina sa may liguan ng karabaw hanggang sa umabot sila sa may tabing ilog kasama na niya ang lola nya.. Sa tabing ilog na iyon nandoon daw ang mga SAF habang pinapainum ng tubig ang bunsong anak ng may dumating na ampibyan ng sundalo at sinabihan sila bakit hindi pa daw sila lumalabas sa lugar na iyon, ayon kay sarah sinubukan siyang pigilan ng dalawang sundalo na wag umalis mabilis pa rin sila umalis kasama ang kaniyang lola. nang makahanap sila ng masisilongan at nakapag palipas ng isang gabi at hindi pa rin dumarating ang kanyang asawa,nag alala na siya,ni hindi pa daw makontak ang kanyang asawa sa phone. Jan 26, 2015 Tumawag si sarah sa kaniyang ina at tinanong kung nandoon ba ang kaniyang asawa dahil hindi pa nga daw nakakauwi,at nalaman na lang niya na sabi ng kanyang ina na ang kanyang asawa ay patay na daw,nang marinig niya iyon sa kaniyang ina,agad agad silang pumunta sa nanay at hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala na patay na nga ang kaniyang asawa,sinundo sila sa malapit sa maganoy at pag dating nila bali balita na, ang kanyang asawa ay patay na,base sa kwento sa kaniya ay nakadapa daw ang asawa at nakatali ang dalawang kamay sa likod. Iyak siya ng iyak sa sinapit ng kanyang asawa dahil hindi na nya inaasahan ang sinapit ng kanyang maybahay,tanong niya bakit ang asawa nya pa?Ayon kay sarah paano niya bubuhayin ang kanilang dalawang anak,na malilit pa,at masakit sa kaniya hindi man lang niya nakita ang asawa niya maliban sa kanyang puntod lamang. Ayon sa mga kwento ng mga saksi at ang maging mga kamag anak nila natagpuan ang kanyang asawa na patay na at kasama siya natagpuan sa mga bangkay ng mga SAF na namatay,nakilala lang daw at naniwala na siya na kasama ang kanyang asawa doon sa mga namatay dahil sa bisikletang natagpuan,damit na longsleeve kulay blue at short na itim na naibalik sa kaniya,maliban sa bagpack na hindi na nakita, kinompirma ni sarah na kasama ang asawa niya. After 3 days of the incident bago siya pinabalik sa kanilang bahay,ngunit hindi na rin sila doon nagtagal dahil kinupkop sya ng kanyang magulang,ayon sa salaysay ni sarah,nagka trauma ang panganay nilang anak,ayaw daw niya bumalik doon dahil baka daw patayin sila ng sundalo. Alam ng panganay na ang kaniyang tatay ay patay na at sundalo ang pumatay,si sadia 3 years old masayahin,madaldal.ngunit nagbago ang makulay na buhay ni sadia ng mawala ang kanyang ama,nagiging tahimik,madaling magalit at nagagalit kapag naririnig niya na piatay ang kaniyang ama ng mga sundaloayon sa kaniyang ina nangungurot na daw ito at mailap na sa mga tao, na para bang may sariling mundo. Kamakailan lang may nagpaabot ng pera kay sarah,halagang 25,000 tinanong niya ito kung para saan ang pera?hindi naman kasi matutumbasan ng pera ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang asawa, ang sabi nang mamang nagbigay sa kaniya ng pera bigay ni mayor yan para sa pangkabuhayan na sana makatulong sa pang araw araw na gastusin,meron din daw nag rerelief ng bigas,at nakatanggap daw siya uli ng 25k at ang Sabi sa kaniya galling daw kay Gov. Hataman.. 50k ang perang natanggap niya tinanong ko siya kung ano ginawa niya sa 50k ang sabi ni sarah ibinayad nya sa utang nila sapagkat may mga kaugalian sa muslim na hindi maganda kapag namatay ka maraming utang,kaya ibinayad nya sa mga utang nila para hindi na pasanin ng kaniyang asawa.may natirang kaunti sa pera at pinambili sa mga kelangan ng mga anak nila. Sa salaysay ni Sarah,nakakapagod na rin ang paulit ulit na pag iinterview sa kanila,wala naman daw lumalabas sa media,hindi nila naririnig sa radio o nakikita sa t.v ang mga isinalaysay nilang paghihinagpis at hinihinging hustisya para sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na namatay.ayon kay sarah tanging ang nagpapalakas sa kanya ay ang kanyang dalawang anak at pag pray. Masakit pa rin ang kanyang nararamdaman,naghahalo ang lungkot at pag aalala sa sinapit nila,paano niya bubuhayin ang kanilang dalawang anak na babae gayon pati ang kanilang pangunahing hanapbuhay ay apektado na rin,kasalukuyan silang nakatira sa kanyang magulang ang inaasahan nila sa pang araw araw ay

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relief goods na ngayon ngunit nahinto na rin ang pagsusuplay, at kaunting pera na natira doon sa binigay ng mayor at ni Gov. hataman. Ang pangunahing hinihingi nila ay hustisya. Sana hindi na maulit ang pangyayaring ito sapagkat masakit para sa knila ang mawalan ng mahal sa buhay. pati ang kanilang pangunahing pangkabuhayan ay apektado, na tanging pagfafarm lng pinagkukunan nila.