WHAT other options could be taken to enable the more than 600,000 internally displaced persons in Mindanao resume normalcy in their lives? Government forces are bent to continue with their punitive actions against three MILF commanders allegedly behind the attacks of communities at the height of the non-signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.

Maguindanao hosts the most number of IDPs since August 2008. According to the records of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), Maguindanao still has 63, 278 families of the 318, 953 persons displaced. North Cotabato still has 8,384 families of 40,069 persons displaced as of June 25.

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Almost seventy percent of the internally displaced persons in communities affected by the 'punitive actions' against three MILF commanders are children. The Bantay Ceasefire reported that one common cause of death is "cardiopulmonary shock" caused by the daily mortar shelling affecting even evacuation centers.

It has been 10 months since the government has launched its pursuit operations and punitive actions against three persons. Displacement is large-scale. Today, the Philippines ranks with countries like Sudan, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Central Africa and Colombia having the highest number in internally displaced persons.

The huge resources that were used for the punitive actions against three persons could have sent children in school, provided decent shelter and started livelihood for thousands of IDPs to be able to rebuild their lives.

Instead, children like Faiza Kahar, 7, who was hit by shrapnel from mortars that fell in Maahad evacuation center in Barangay Libutan, Mamasapano in Datu Piang, Maguindanao continues.

Aside from constantly fleeing from bombardments and seeking safe shelter, residents also run the risk of abuse.

The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were introduced in 1998 as a legal framework that defines their rights and the obligations of governments, non-state actors and the international community towards this group.

Principle 4 of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement states: Certain internally displaced persons, such as children, especially unaccompanied minors, expectant mothers, mothers with young children, female heads of household, persons with disabilities and elderly persons, shall be entitle to protection and assistance required by their condition and to treatment which takes into account their special needs.

Last March 1, 2009, three children and an adult were hurt. In his statement to Mindanao Tulong Bakwet (MTB), a local organization that assists civilians who have evacuated their homes and documents human rights violations, Norhad Datukan, 14, said that the one soldier slapped his face twice while being blind-folded and handcuffed with a packaging tape. The soldiers insisted that Norhad and three other companions, Mamandok Edza, 10, Mohamidin Edza, 13 and Ebspangga Edza, 25 were members of MILF's 105 Base Command.

Principle 5 further outlines the Responsibility to Protect of the State: All authorities and international actors shall respect and ensure respect for their obligations under the international law, including human rights and humanitarian law, in all circumstances, so as to prevent and avoid conditions that might lead to displacement of persons.

But these international legal instruments on protection of civilians, especially children are not taken into account. In the media dialogue and exchange in Cotabato last week, the military said that the IDPs are "enemy reserve force."

Until the peace panels of both government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) decides to return to the negotiating table, internally displaced persons will continue in a state of insecurity, with no guarantee for their safety.

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