Mindanao

Cotabato governor pushes for retraining of civilian armed volunteers

Cotabato City-Cotabato provincial governor Jesus Sacdalan presses the need for the members of civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs) in the province to undergo retraining. The governor said he is closely coordinating…

Continue ReadingCotabato governor pushes for retraining of civilian armed volunteers

Asian youth leaders call for resumption of peace talks

By GRACE S. UDDIN | Davao Today

The young religious leaders, representing Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other religions, are calling for the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the MILF, which collapsed after the failed signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) in August.

Continue ReadingAsian youth leaders call for resumption of peace talks

Women and children in conflict areas tell their stories in Ibon book

By CJ KUIZON | Davao Today

Funded by the United Nations children's fund (Unicef), the Ibon book delves into the lives of women and children living in areas under the influence of the New People's Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), hence, the subject of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operations.

Continue ReadingWomen and children in conflict areas tell their stories in Ibon book

Groups slam military for calling children killed in attacks as ‘child warriors’

By CJ KUIZON | Davao Today

Ma. Esmeralda Macaspac, CRC executive director, said the statements made by Colonel Marlou Salazar, 601st brigade commander, were "irresponsible and cowardly." She pointed out that five of the six children who were killed were below ten years old, slamming the military's penchant for branding children that they have killed in their operations as "child warriors."

Continue ReadingGroups slam military for calling children killed in attacks as ‘child warriors’

MILF calls for an independent body to look into civilian casualties

By CHERYLL D. FIEL | Davao Today

"The government will not implement what it has committed. So when it was not signed, our two commanders concluded that the government of the Philippines did not really want the peaceful process. So, they decided by themselves without the sanction of the high leaders of the MILF. That's when the problem came."

Continue ReadingMILF calls for an independent body to look into civilian casualties