These were the highest officers of the division, involving commanders of brigades, battalions and companies, and also company executive officers and sergeant majors, said Col. Julieto Ando, 6ID spokesman.
He said the seminar was held with the assistance of peace advocates from Cotabato City.
Ando said the seminar will give their officers better understanding of the peace building efforts, especially in the former battlefield areas under their command.
The officers, he said, were taught how to handle conflicts in the field, including determining the root causes of the conflict and its resolutions.
“I am happy to note that our men in uniform have positively accepted and supported our peace efforts rather than just immediately engaging in firefights in conflict affected areas,” Ando said.
He said that the successful trainees will be deployed in conflict affected areas to apply their skills in resolving conflicts.
“We also field our men in Midsayap (in North Cotabato) to help the affected inhabitants in solving the land conflict there,” Ando stressed.
Ando is optimistic that the knowledge gained by the officers could be a big help in their quest for achieving lasting peace in their area of responsibility.
The 6ID’s shift to more dialogues and peace building apparently started with the appointment of Maj. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer as commanding general last March, following the clashes in Midsayap between Moro fighters and elements of the division, then under Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito.
Ferrer, who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1977, initiated peace building among his soldiers as brigade commander in Basilan a few years ago.