January 16, 2010 - The Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) conducted another training-workshop on human rights documentation on January 13-15, 2010 at the Ybelle’s Inn, this town.

The participants of the training-workshop came from the barangay local government units (BLGUs) of Barangays Baliki and Rangaban in Midsayap; Barangay Pagangan in Aleosan, and Barangay General Luna in Carmen. Bantay Ceasefire volunteers from Pikit, Carmen, Midsayap, Alamada and President Roxas were also invited to share their views on various human rights issues and concerns.

Just like Midsayap, the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Pikit, Alamada and President Roxas are all in the province of Cotabato.

The 3-day training-workshop aimed to educate the Bantay Ceasefire volunteers on human rights documentation.

Rahib Kudto, Deputy Secretary General of the MPC said that the activity was conducted “to strengthen community-based protective mechanisms in line with international humanitarian principles.”

“Engaging barangay councils are very essential approach through maximizing local government units’ existing protection structures such as peace and order council, disaster coordinating council and other local special bodies,” Kudto added.

The said training-workshop is part of the MPC’s humanitarian protection and grassroots advocacy supported by the Joint Oxfam Mindanao Programme (JOMP).

MPC, as a non-partisan entity that organized the Bantay Ceasefire, a grassroots ceasefire monitoring group, in support to the present peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is now fully recognized as member of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) working and helping on the Civilian Protection Component.