Responding to a crisis in her own city

Background Information

On September 9th, 2013, violence erupted within Zamboanga city when MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) fighters staged an attack and occupied five seaside barangays, or districts. This event followed the August 12th verbal unilateral declaration of independence of the Bangsamoro Republik, reportedly, by Chairman Nur Misuari (founder of the MNLF), although at the time no territory was actually under Chairman Misuari’s control. However, the situation quickly deteriorated in the next three weeks, resulting in the displacement of 120,000 people from their homes. During this time NP deployed additional staff to the area and worked proactively to support civilians. Grave Child Rights Violations (GCRV) were also monitored and reported. Cases were referred to response agencies during this frightful period.

Responding to a crisis in her own city

NP Regional Programme Officer Jasmin Teodoro described what happened to her city in September as surreal. Jasmin said although she had been able to respond in other areas of armed conflict in her area of responsibility, including Basilan and Sulu, she did not know how to react to the Zamboanga conflict. “I didn’t know how to respond in Zamboanga—I couldn’t imagine it happening in my very own city.” Jasmin’s previous work in the area of Western Mindanao included various initiatives focused on monitoring.

Remembering the first day

Once Jasmin managed to get over the initial shock, she quickly gathered her thoughts to begin planning. Jasmin called up some contacts and they agreed to meet at the Sanggunian, or youth council, which was close to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office. A group of the mayor’s staff was also there.

As the group gathered, they hoped the fighting would be over the next day. Jasmin alerted NP’s Main Office in Cotabato City, which also started gathering information and working on scenarios. This prepared them to provide response, should the situation escalate.

The Grandstand evacuation centre was nearby, so Jasmin went there with a friend from DSWD. She realized how serious the situation was by seeing the number of the people there. She knew then that “something was terribly wrong.” She saw some children being lifted down from a dump truck. During the night, she recalled seeing an old woman and her goat arrive. This made her realize that people were going to the Grandstand with all they had in order to survive.

Networking and consolidated response

As the number of people in the grandstand grew to about four to five thousand by 5 pm, Jasmin decided to call an NP partner on child protection initiatives. During the succeeding days of on-going armed conflict, Jasmin was in close contact with the DSWD and monitored reports of GCRVs. She visited evacuation centers to assess child protection needs and verify cases of children needing attention. Jasmin also regularly attended meetings with local civil society organizations (CSOs), government structures, DSWD, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be in the loop with what was happening.

Seeing that the crisis was far from over, NP’s Main Office decided to send additional staff to support Jasmin. She knew she needed assistance for the verification and monitoring of child protection issues which had arisen from the situation. The NP team, including Jasmin met DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman to inform her of NPs mandate for Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Child Rights Violations (MRM-GCRVs). During the next few days, while monitoring reports on GCRVs and child protection issues, the team conducted a rapid needs assessment in three evacuation centers. These were Boalan Elementary school, Ebenezer Gymnasium and Cawa-cawa seaside. The results of the assessment were forwarded to the concerned agencies.

Assisting children in conflict with the law

On the Zamboanga peninsula, the teams at Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi focused on child protection. The team intervened in a number of cases where children were being accused of supporting the MNLF offensive during the crisis. NP worked to ensure that they were given due process, and were not incarcerated in any detention facility with adults.

The team was able to successfully assist some of these children and refer their cases to concerned agencies. These children were being transferred to a facility for children in conflict with the law. This way they would be treated correctly and given appropriate support while facing charges. They also continued to check on the condition of children while they were at the children’s facility. They provided protective presence and constantly followed up with responsible agencies in charge of their cases including UNICEF. One child talked to Jasmin in Tausug before he was transferred to the children’s facility. Jasmin was struck with emotion, as the child sobbed while sharing his story. Two months after the standoff, all but one child had been released.

Advocate for women and children

Jasmin, who is founding Executive Director of an NGO for women, called Pinay Kilos (Pink), said that working for NP was a big opportunity. It allowed her to work in her area of personal advocacy for women and children. She found fulfilment assisting the children who were reportedly used by the MNLF and through responding to the crisis that happened in her own city.

She considers the Zamboanga crisis her most challenging experience with NP. She takes to heart every child protection issue and concern she deals with. Jasmin is also a mother of three young children. The most important thing to her in doing her work is that she has a “family who supports and understands.”

Article by Information Officer in the Philippines, Chayie Maligalig