http://www.devcon-ngo.org

TOPIC:           Women’s month: Women in StruggleModerator:     

Dr. Susan S. Anayatin- President, International Visitors Program-                                       Cotabato City and Maguindanao 

                                                                                                                                                     Resource Persons: Ustadza Camela Gumander                                                                             President, Alyansa ng Makabagong Kababaihan para sa  Kaunlaran (ALMAKKA) Cotabato City                                                                                                                                                                          

Ms. Froilyn T. Mendoza

Teduray-Lambangian Women’s Organization (TLWO)

Moderator:    Good morning and welcome to our program, the Bantalakayan radio program. In line with our celebration of Women’s Month, we will tackle now the topic,  ‘Women in Struggle’. Our history tells us that many women have been partner by men in struggle for development and freedom. If we still remember during the times of Gabriela Silang, Tandang Sora, women joined the revolutionary movement. Though seldom recognized, the women have also fought for our freedom. Here in Mindanao, many of our women ancestors have joined the liberation movement but this is not  limited to armed struggle but also to fighting poverty. Our visitors will share some of their stories with regards to their struggle, hardships, pains and gains.

TOPIC:           International Women’s Day and Women’s month celebration                    Moderator:    Father Jun Mercado – Senior Policy Adviser, IAG            

Resource Persons: Ms. Sittie Kalid  of  ALMAKKA  in Cotabato City 

                            Ms. Levy  Casal   of MCLW  in Cotabato City and   

                               Ms. Baileng Mantawil  of UNYPHIL-Women, Inc. in Maguindanao

Moderator:  Good morning Sam and good morning to all the listeners of Bantalakayan Radio Program and DXMS Radio for Peace. The topic for the month of March is very important, because we’ll be tackling issues on women. Everybody knows that the month of March is a dedicated to women. March 8^th of each year is designated by the United Nation as International Women’s Day and this is a yearly celebration every March 8^th since 1975. Women’s day is celebrated not only every March 8 but also the whole month of March. This is to honor women from all walks of life, the mothers, those women who are in business, in governance, in struggle, etc. All men should respect the women, their wives, their mothers, etc. Before we continue with our discussions, I would like to mention and say thanks to all our sponsors. This month, our sponsoring organization is ALMAKKA (Alyansa ng makabagong Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran). This is the group of widows, orphans and relatives of ex-MNLF combatants. They group themselves to fend for their families and work for their livelihood. Also with us are the Urban Poor, the Development Consultants, Inc., the Institute of Autonomy ad Governance together with its partner, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the International Visitors Program, NDU Peace Center, KCJP, OTLAC, TJG, OMI, MSU Graduate School, BWSF, etc.  I will pass on the microphone to Ms. Baileng Mantawil. She is from the UNYPHIL-Women, a group of Women from the Bangsamoro Youth.

DATE: February 28, 2009

TOPIC:           Kidnapping: Its effect on local politics and economy

Moderator:    Dr. Susan Anayatin – International Visitors Program      

Resource Persons: Mayor Muslimin G. Sema of Cotabato City

                                   Col. Kaharudin Ampatuan, Spokesperson 603^rd Bgde, 6ID, AFP

Excerpts from the discussion 

Moderator:  Good morning to everyone! Our topic for today is about ‘Kidnapping and its effect on politics and economy. We are lucky to have Mayor Muslimin G. Sema of Cotabato City and Lt. Col. Taharudin Ampatuan. Also with us are the Development Consultants, Inc. and UP-Savings.  We’d like to hear an opening statement from the Mayor as well as his opinion with regards to the current spate of kidnapping here in Cotabato, Hon. Muslimin G. Sema. 

Mayor:  Good morning to each and everyone. I’d like to give thanks for inviting me to be part of this forum on the current issue wherein all sectors are now concerned about, the kidnapping incidents. Well, kidnapping as has been observed by many not only in the Philippines but also by some international bodies, has been here since 1970’s. Even personalities in the media were involved in the kidnapping. Remember the kidnapping of Mrs. Simon. She’s like a sister to me during that time in 1970’s when I was captured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). That was during the height of Moro war here in Mindanao. Yes it’s true, as observed by many that kidnapping has become a source of livelihood and some also are acts of vengeance. There are some incidents that the family is the one involved. Sometimes, they resort to this kind of action as a response to injustices that have been committed against them. At this point in time, there are many problems and issues that have not been resolved - these are just some of things that people are trying to ride on.

Usually, a thing like this happens, because we are still at the revolutionary stage, there are still insurgencies everywhere; they will immediately blame it right away to them. There are kidnappings which involve leaders in the community. If you remember in the 1980’s, men in uniform are also involved in the kidnapping here in Mindanao. In the early 90’s, PNP were also involved in the kidnapping. Sometimes people involved in the kidnapping were coming from here in Cotabato City and they would just hand over the victims to the coddlers in the hinterlands to take care of them. People who were involved in the kidnappings came from the urban areas and they were the ones doing the negotiation also.  Before 1998, most of the investors here in Cotabato City were in flight already. Most of them were transferring to other areas like Iligan City, Zamboanga and Davao City. They also established business in Manila. But in 1998, we promised to build confidence here in our area and we believed that we reduced tremendously the spate of kidnappings here in the City. I’m not saying 100 percent but it was reduced. Since 1998, the kidnapping incident here didn’t reach to 5. Some were rescued like in the case of Dr. Agustin. Two of the kidnappers were dead in our hot pursuit-rescue operation. One was held and the later the alleged mastermind was captured in Manila for another crime but since he was identified for another kidnapping incident by Dr. Agustin, he was brought here in Cotabato City and was jailed together with the other companion. But later on, he was released without our knowledge. I don’t know why they were released. For instance, the recent kidnapping of Mr. Wilson Tan, the kidnappers were identified by no less than the victim itself. The kidnappers told Mr. Tan that they the same people who kidnapped Dr. Agustin. So I can say that this id revenge on my part because we were involved in the pursuit operation during the kidnapping of Dr. Agustin. We were the one, the MNLF, who have rescued the victim and then captured the perpetrators.

DATE: February 21, 2009

TOPIC:           The GRP Panel: On Facing New Challenges

Moderator:    Fr. Jun Mercado – Senior Policy Adviser   

Resource Persons: Atty. Camilo “Bong” Montessa                                   

Assistant Secretary  Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process  (OPPAP)

Excerpts from the discussion 

Moderator:  (Father Jun Mercado thanking the sponsors) Our guest for today is from Manila. He is no other than Atty. Bong Montessa, the Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP). OPPAP is task to supervise the peace process between the GRP and the MILF. If you remember last three weeks ago, we had interviewed and talked to Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Panel.  This is a continuing peace discussion. We’d like to welcome our guest, Atty. Bong Montessa. But before we begin on what will be the next steps for the peace talks; we’d like to ask him for an opening statement. 

Asec. Montessa: Good morning Father and good morning also to all the listeners of Bantalakayan Radio Program. I am glad that I was invited here to share some of our opinions and personal views with regards to the topic. 

Moderator: Let’s welcome also our visitors here. (Father Jun mentioning one by one the name of the visitors.)What is now the status of the Peace Talks? There are a lot of people especially those who are still at the evacuation centers who were asking on the next steps with regards to the peace process, when will it resume or is there a possibility for its resumption?  

Asec. Montessa: With regards to the status of the peace talks, last January 28, 2009, the new GRP Peace Panel was again formed and has already informed the facilitator (i.e. Malaysia) that our peace panel is ready to resume talks with the MILF. Immediately, I would like to inform also that the GRP panels are now preparing while waiting for the a signal from the facilitator to resume the peace talks. I want to clarify also some scattering pronouncements with regards to DDR. The question is, are we going to be disarmed, demobilized and be reintegrated first before we’ll gonna start all over the peace negotiation with the MILF? The answer is NO. The government has not given any conditions with regards to the peace talks like DDR. In fact DDR is not a condition ‘coz the government knows that it will be part of the whole package once the GRP and the MILF have come up with a comprehensive peace agreement.