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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on October 25, 2008
Life in Datu Piang: Personal account of a woman armed–conflict survivor
Ang lugar ko po ay madalas may kalamidad—mapa–natural o man–made calamity. Kung hindi baha, giyera (My hometown [Datu Piang, Maguindanao] is frequently hit by calamities—whether natural or man–made calamities. If not flood, it is armed–conflict).
Mula noong akoy isinilang—lumaki..., patuloy pa rin akong nakaranas ng kalamidad. Nakakasawa na rin ang ganitong buhay (Ever since I was small—while growing up... I have continued to experience these calamities. I am tired with this kind of life).
Ang pinaka–worst na experience ko ay ang kasalukuyang gulo ng bayan ng Datu Piang, Maguindanao at ang mga kalapit na bayan (My worst experience is the present armed–conflict in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao [province] and the nearby towns).
Ang buong Poblacion ng Datu Piang, Maguindanao, sa ngayon, ay ang pinaka–malaking evacuation center. Mayroong 5,234 pamilyang bakwit o 25,170 individuals ang naghihirap, nakipagsiksikan sa 28 evacuation sites (The Poblacion of Datu Piang, Maguindanao, to date, is the biggest evacuation center. There are 5,234 family evacuees or 25,170 individuals suffering, congested in 28 evacuation sites).
Maraming buhay na ang nawala sa kasalukuyang giyera ngayon at ang nakakaloko ay pawang mga kabataan ang biktima (Many lives were lost because of the present armed–conflict and it is silly because the victims are mostly children).
Mula ng nagsimula ang giyera umabot na ng humigit limampo ang naitatalang namatay. Ang civilian ang karamihan sa namatay—crossfire o di kayay tinamaan ng mortar shelling (Since the start of the [latest] armed–conflict, about 50 persons have been reported dead. Most of the casualties were civilians—killed either by crossfire or hit by mortar shelling).
Halos gabi–gabi, halos nagiging musika na namin ang mga mortar na pinakawalan at hindi alam kung saan nahuhulog. Thirteen sa 19 na barangay ng Datu Piang ang naapektohan ng giyera sa Maguindanao (Almost every night, the sound of mortar shelling hitting unknown destinations becomes music to us. Thirteen out of the 19 barangays [villages] of Datu Piang is affected by the armed–conflict in Maguindanao).
Hindi naging hadlang sa akin ang pagiging biktima ng giyera.... Isa sa mga ginagawa namin ay ang pag–organize ng mga bakwit sa kani–kanilang evacuation sites (Being affected by the armed–conflict is not a hindrance.... One of our activities is organizing evacuees in evacuation sites).
Tinutoruan sila kung ano ang dapat nilang gagawin kung sakaling may magkakasakit—kung saan sila puwedeng lumapit at makahingi ng tulong. Tinutoruan din namin sila kung ano ang dapat gawin lalo na ngayon na rampant ang sapilitang paghuhuli ng mga sundalo ng gobyerno. (We guide the evacuees on what to do in case they will be sick—where to seek assistance. Because of the widespread arrests being conducted by the soldiers of the government, we also guide them on what to do in case they will be arrested).
Marami ng Morong kalalakihan ang sapilitang hinuhuli sa evacuation sites. Ang iba ay nakakauwi kung susundan agad, at ang iba naman ay hindi na nakakabalik—parang bula na lang na nawawala. Ang ibang nakakabalik nalanta ng dahil sa torture katulad ng apat na victims. (Many Moro men have been arrested at the evacuation sites. Others returned when immediately followed up; while others never return—they just disappear like bubbles. Others who came back were like withered plants because of torture just like what happened to four victims).
(Nagkakampanya kami) na ipagpatuloy ang usapan sa grupo ng MILF at ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas dahil ito pa rin ang pinaka–inam na solution sa problema natin dito sa Mindanao ([We are campaigning] for the resumption of the peace talks between the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] and the government of the Philippines because this is still the best solution to our problems here in Mindanao).
Editor's Note: The storyteller is hereby unnamed for protection.
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