Reintegration Adjustment of Victim of Circumstances in Maguindanao: A Peace Building Framework

This study explored how victims of circumstances in Maguindanao adjusted after returning to civilian life and used these findings to propose a peacebuilding framework. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design guided the inquiry. In the first phase, survey data were gathered from 238 respondents to measure adjustment across five areas: purpose and connection, help-seeking, beliefs about civilians, resentment and regret, and regimentation. Results showed that respondents generally felt a strong sense of belonging and maintained positive views toward civilians. Other areas reflected moderate yet stable adjustment, suggesting ongoing adaptation rather than difficulty. Multivariate analysis indicated that age, educational attainment, and the combined influence of marital status and education shaped selected aspects of adjustment. The second phase involved in-depth interviews that described personal transitions, family influences, emotional reflections, and community experiences during reintegration. Participants shared varied pathways, showing that adjustment was shaped by both personal effort and surrounding support. Bringing together these findings, the study developed a peacebuilding framework that highlights personal restoration, relational reintegration, and structural support as interconnected elements. The study concludes that reintegration is not a single event but a continuing process that requires coordinated psychosocial, community, and institutional responses in post-conflict settings.