THE Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs) are playing a vital role in ensuring peace and security in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Composed of members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, JPSTs are tasked, among others, to maintain peace and order in mutually agreed areas of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), support GPH-MILF ceasefire mechanisms, and assist in dispute resolution.
To enhance their capabilities to carry out their mandate, JPSTs are undergoing Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions that are focused on community-oriented safeguarding and conflict management.
These sessions, facilitated by the Nonviolent Peaceforce and the International Organization for Migration, aim to equip JPST members with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively engage with communities, address conflict, and promote human rights.
The TOT sessions cover a wide range of topics, including understanding JPST's duties and responsibilities as a peacekeeping force, community-oriented policing, building community relationships and mapping community issues, conflict resolution and referral pathways, accountability and feedback mechanisms, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
"The importance of JPST in the community is not just about maintaining security but about fostering trust and promoting human rights," said Col. Roberto Huet, a member of the GPH-JPST, during the culmination of one of the TOT sessions.
One of the key aspects of the training is community mapping and assessment, where participants are encouraged to engage in participatory mapping exercises, using visual tools and collaborative methods to identify peace and security issues within their communities.
JPSTs have been instrumental in supporting the normalization process and building a more peaceful and secure future for the Bangsamoro people.