Women former combatants call for role in peace process

JEAN, Lourdes, and Hafida come from different battlegrounds. Two spent years in the mountains adhering to the strict discipline of the New People’s Army (NPA); the other carries the surname of the man who led the siege that brought a city to its knees.

Yet, sitting together recently, their stories converged on a single, shared reality: the war doesn’t end when the shooting stops.

Jean Bautista-Mabaga, a former NPA combatant in the Caraga Region, has traded her rifle for a ladle, making a living selling kakanin (rice cakes) and running an online shop. But the transition to civilian life hasn’t shielded her from judgment.

“Kahit anong sabihin nila, ang naranasan ko ay di nila mararanasan,” Bautista-Mabaga said.

Instead of letting the discrimination break her, she uses it as fuel, reversing the negativity into a drive to succeed. It is a sentiment she shares with the other women in the room.

“Galing din ako sa pakikibaka. Nakita ko na pare-pareho ang mga layunin, magkaiba lang ang paraan,” she added, noting the common thread among former women combatants at the WeCare Women Summit, in Cagayan de Oro City Thursday, Dec. 11.

Beyond the label

For Lourdes Acenas Caculba, a former NPA combatant from Salay town, the new enemy is social exclusion. Her battle cry has shifted from armed struggle to a fight for dignity.

“Laban lang sa discrimination,” Caculba said.

She emphasized the need for mental clarity and pragmatic solutions to the hurdles they face daily: “Makapagawas og maayong panghuna-huna. Unsa’y solbad sa problema nga giatubang.”

Despite the stigma, Caculba refuses to hide her past. She draws strength from the discipline instilled in her during her time in the movement, specifically the Maoist code of conduct known to cadres as the Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points of Attention.

“Proud ko sa unsa’y akong naagian. Nakita nako unsa ang praktika sa tulo ka lagda ug walo ka tahas,” she said.

BREAKING THE STIGMA. Hafida Romato Maute asserts her identity is shaped by her actions, not her family's past. As Omar Maute's sister, she reclaims her narrative, proving resilience amid adversity. Photo by Cong B. Corrales

The weight of a name

Perhaps no one understands the burden of a label quite like Hafida Romato Maute. She is the sister of Omar Maute, the co-founder of the Dawlah Islamiyah group that led the devastating 2017 Marawi Siege.

Today, Hafida is a solo parent of three, trying to make ends meet through online selling. But the shadow of her brother’s actions looms large; the discrimination became so intense that she stopped using her surname to protect herself and her children.

Now, she is reclaiming her narrative. She wants to raise awareness that Maute is just a surname, not a definition of her character.

“I use my experience to tell stories of resilience going towards peace,” Hafida said, offering a simple but powerful message to others in her position: “Just believe in yourself.”

PLACE AT THE TABLE. Women from MILF, MNLF, NPA, and Dawlah Islamiya united in Cagayan de Oro (Dec 11) to sign the "WeCare Mindanao Declaration," pushing for inclusive peace processes and an end to post-conflict stigma. Photo by Cong B. Corrales

‘With us, not merely for us’

The stories of Jean, Lourdes, and Hafida are the heartbeat behind the “WeCare Mindanao Declaration: A Call for Women-Sensitive Peacebuilding Reintegration.”

Unveiled recently by the WeCare Mindanao Network — a coalition including the Pananad’m MILF Women’s Council, the MNLF Mga Bae Ko Kasalimbago, and other groups — the manifesto declares that their transition to civilian life remains “incomplete.”

A representative identified as Mida emphasized that while they are navigating a “fragile journey toward peace,” current rehabilitation programs often miss the mark because they lack input from the women they are meant to help.

“Our lived experiences make this clear: programs must be designed with us, not merely for us,” the declaration states. “We may be bound by shared hopes, but we are shaped by different stories.”

Four non-negotiable pillars

To ensure their stories don’t end in tragedy or poverty, the coalition outlined four pillars for genuine peace:

Safety, Security, and Dignity: The group demanded an end to “social stigmatization.” They noted that despite government clearances, many women fear that promised protections are “merely rhetorical.”

Sustainable Livelihood: Rejecting temporary dole-outs, they called for stable income opportunities to ensure economic independence.

Holistic Well-being: The manifesto asks for scholarships and community-based psychosocial services to address the unique traumas affecting them and their families.

Political Participation: The women demanded “a seat at the table” in local decision-making bodies.

A warning and a vow

The declaration also issued a “profound concern” regarding external political interference in the evolving status of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The women warned that interventions by those who did not share the burdens of war could lead to “disillusionment, renewed frustration, and unintended aggressive reactions.”

As the focal persons signed the document, the message was clear: their willingness to rebuild proves that “no label can ever limit a human capacity to transform.”

“We carry the scars of war, but we carry a greater hope for peace,” the declaration concludes. “Partner with us. Honor our dignity. Invest in our vision.”