ON A JOURNEY TOGETHER IN BUILDING JUST-PEACE  by Dann Pantoja

Elwyn Neri, our field worker, used to be so antagonistic with Philippine military personnel.  He has been exposed to too many Muslim and Christian families being displaced because of military operations.  He has seen military troops destroying homes and farms of the alleged rebels.  It was very difficult for Elwyn to trust a military officer or trooper.  It was impossible for him to work with the people in uniform.

Colonel Pedro Soria, the Commanding Officer of the 602nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, used to think of "peace and order" as mere anti-insurgency.  For him, maintaining peace and order meant "more highly trained military troops and more firepower."

Elwyn and Col. Soria went through a personal transformation when they both attended the 2007 Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) in Davao City last May.  Elwyn and "Pete" (as Col. Soria introduced himself in the MPI classroom) learned about the Fundamentals of Peacebuilding, Conflict Transformation, and Conflict Resolution Skills.

Pete Soria's thinking was influenced by John Paul Lederach's writings.  Elwyn learned to treat and respect all participants in the Mindanao conflict as human beings and not to demonize the military.

In his testimony before 700+ civilians (composed of Muslims, Christians, and Lumads) attending a community-based Peace Conference last December 4th, Col. Soria said: "My understanding of my job as an army officer was to pacify and to neutralize armed rebel elements within my area of operations.  At MPI, I gained a deeper understanding of the dynamics of individual and social conflicts.  Before, when an armed conflict happens within my area of operations, I would immediately send armed personnel carriers and tanks to deal with conflict.  Today, I would seek to listen to all the conflicting parties.  I hope they are willing to listen as well.  Though I am very clear about my primary role as a military officer defending the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, I am learning this complementary role as a peacebuilding leader...  I am thankful for the peacebuilders in Mindanao who are helping to work together with us in bringing just-peace in our land."

During that Peace Conference in the Municipality of Carmen, Province of North Cotabato, Muslims, Christians and Lumads signed a Community-Based Peace Agreement.  Col. Soria and Elwyn were one of the signatories.  The conference facilitators also invited us--myself, Bill and Marianne Thiessen from Canada--to sign the documents as international witnesses.  We were so touched and honored.

After the Peace Conference, Col. Pete Soria invited us  for lunch.  He then gave us a tour of the military base under his command, presenting to us his officers and staff.  Before we left his office, he assured us: “The commissioned officers and the enlisted personnel of the 602nd Infantry Brigade are your allies in peacebuilding."

It was Elwyn who arranged this appointment with his friend and colleague in peacebuilding.  Elwyn and Pete both agree that they are working as fellow-peacebuilders in the same geographical and socio-political area of operations.  They both understand their respective callings as a journey together in building just-peace in this beautiful land.