Ilonggo cop speaks of life in the Ivory Coast
Chief Insp. Marlon Tayaba with village people in
Ivory Coast.
The armed conflict in Cote d′ Ivore prompted the United Nations (UN) to deploy international peacekeeping force with primary aim to monitor incidents involving peace agreement in areas considered as government and rebel zones. Thus, United Nations Operation in Cote d' Ivore (UNOCI) was born.
Of the 315 UNOCI cops, 11 came from the Philippines. One of those who got the rare chance to become part of the contingent is Chief Inspector Marlon Tayaba, former deputy regional director of the 6th Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). He has been deployed in the Ivory Coast since September 9, 2005.
In an email communication, Tayaba said life in the Ivory Coast is far different from the Philippines, specifically in Iloilo. He first noticed the scarcity of water in the area particularly in villages. Ilonggos still have the luxury to enjoy clean and safe drinking water as compared in the Ivory Coast, said Tayaba.
Before coming to the Ivory Coast, Tayaba was also part of the Philippine contingent fielded in Kosovo years ago. In Kosovo they were fielded in armed mission but in the Ivory Coast they focus more on monitoring.
Tayaba said the scarcity of water is also happening in all villages in the Ivory Coast. The UN police (UNPOL) had already visited some 200 villages since they arrived last year. They have only a year to stay in the place.
He said Filipinos are very lucky to have a potable drinking water. In villages, people have to wait for their turn to fetch water from the deep well. Hundreds of Ivorians have to get their water from a single deep well.
The outbreak of malaria is also a normal occurrence in the mission place. To protect themselves from diseases, UNPOL members are injected with prophylaxis.
After almost nine months in the Ivory Coast, Tayaba said they have already visited 200 villages. However, they could not arrest anyone they deemed to have violated the peace agreement as no police power is entrusted to them.
Ivory Coast is divided into 18 regions. Each region is divided into departments. Each department is divided into sub-departments. And sub-department is again divided into villages.
Tayaba is specifically deployed in Bondoukou, the capital of Zanzan region.
The UNOCI mission has three main objectives such as accounting and documentation of firearms during disarmament operation, depository and identification of unregistered people. Most of those considered as rebels or unregistered people who want to gain entry to Ivory Coast come from the neighboring countries such as Burkina Paso, Ghana, Liberia, Mali and Guinea, said Tayaba.
The UNPOL is also tasked to report social, economic and security concerns of the residents to the United Nations in New York. The official language in Ivory Coast is French. A figure from the Internet regarding Ivory Coast said there are 12 percent Christian, 25 Muslim and 63 percent are into traditional belief. Majority of the residents practice traditional religions involving ancestral worship. They believe that the dead are transformed into spirits and remain in contact with the living through various rituals. The living seeks their blessings and protection from the spirit of dead person.
The UN is not merely concerned about security matters of the land but they are also into reconciliation and reconstruction process in order to address the problems affecting people because of the armed conflict, said Tayaba.
Prior to the deployment of Filipino cops in Ivory Coast, they underwent initial screening in Camp Crame. The initial screening is dubbed as United Nation Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS). The initial examination is given by the directorate for plans.
He said applicants for the mission must first pass the mandatory physical fitness test. The physical examination includes nine pull ups, 60 push ups, 60 sit ups, five minutes 1 kilometer run and 12 seconds 100 meter dash.
After passing the physical test, one has to undergo three types of examination. The first phase of the examination is the reading comprehension; the second is the listening comprehension and third is the report writing.
An applicant must also undergo firing test. From seven meters to 12 meters, the applicants must hit their target in five seconds. The speed of the applicant to pull the gun from the holster, load and fire the gun counts, said Tayaba.
Those who passed the Philippine National Police Screening will compose the pool of officers to take the UNSAT (United Nation Screening Assistance Team). Again, UN representatives will conduct another round of mental test before each applicant is admitted into the UN police.
Even if they are already part of the UNPOL they are still considered as members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). They are still receiving their salaries as members of the PNP.
In the mission area, Filipinos cops are receiving what they called as Mission Subsistence Allowance (MSA) which is in form of US dollars. He declined to reveal how much they are receiving but said it is enough to buy a house and lot and a car for himself when he returns to Iloilo, said Tayaba.