Top mantra is to save lives – peace volunteer

MARAWI CITY – “Ang pinakamahirap ay risking your life as volunteer, pero alam mo din na pwede ka makapagligtas ng tao,” said Salic Mai, a volunteer working for the execution of the Peace Corridor.

The Peace Corridor was established in the three-kilometer Banggulo Bridge to the Quezon Avenue to allow rescue and relief operations. It was a product of a strong partnership between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He is one of the many Joint Coordination, Monitoring, and Assistance Center (JCMAC) volunteers who braved going to the conflict area in the city to rescue trapped civilians.

The JCMAC is composed of volunteers from the government, MILF, and Non-Violent PeaceForce who is tasked to provide a safe route for the trapped civilians in the city.

Salic is a member of Non-Violent PeaceForce, an international peacekeeping organization that aims to protect civilians and prevent violence in areas affected by armed conflict.

“Nag-isip kami buong gabi, worried talaga ang family namin. ‘Yong iba sinabihan ako na pwede naman akong umatras. Pero naisip ko din, kawawa naman yung iba na umiiyak kapag tumatawag sa amin,” Salic shares the top reason that made him decide to volunteer as JCMAC.

Aside from being in an independent peace organization, Salic is also part of the civilian protection component of the International Monitoring Team (IMT). The IMT is a peace monitoring body under the Bangsamoro peace process.

Salic reiterated the challenges that the JCMAC experience in retrieving the trapped civilians, “Ang challenge sa pag rescue ng mga na-trap ay ang timeframe. We were just given 4 hours to retrieve residents coming from the different barangays in Marawi. Napakahirap.”

“Pagtapos namin makatawid ng tulay, at noong nakita na kami ng mga na-trap, at na-feel nila na safe sila, makikita mong relieved talaga sila,” Salic mentioned the condition of the civilians who were trapped for a few days in the conflict area. There those who needs immediate medical assistance, and those who ran out of food to eat.

Despite of the difficulties in bringing the trapped civilians into a safer place, the JCMAC was able to rescue 179 trapped women, men, children and elderly during its first attempt in 4 June 2017.

On its second attempt on 8 June 2017, it was able to bring 38 more civilians to safety – making it a total of 217 saved people.

On 11 June 2017, the JCMAC volunteers were able to retrieve 4 more trapped civilians making it a total of 221 as of today.

“Ang importante ay may maisalba kami, kahit isa lang. Successful na ang Peace Corridor,” Salic said with a smile on his face.( OPAPP)