By Atty. Soliman Santos, Jr.
Contributor
IS the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), proposed in the unsigned Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), a sovereign independent nation-state separate from the Philippine state? Will it mean the territorial dismemberment of the country? These are among the worst fears about the MOA-AD and its BJE splashed or aired over the Philippine media. Let us try to “tackle this issue in an intelligent and dispassionate manner,” guided by truth, reason and justice.
Under the terms of the MOA-AD, the BJE is clearly not a sovereign independent nation-state separate from the Philippine state and, therefore, whatever territory pertains to it would not constitute dismemberment of the country. We shall deal more with statehood rather than territory here. It is not enough to recall the old political science or Philippine political law definitions of the state and its four essential elements of people, territory, government and sovereignty, then say that since the BJE seems to have all these, ergo it is a “state,” and then raise hell about it as if there were a declaration of war.
Other juridical entities (if I may also use the term), including my city of Naga and province of Camarines Sur easily have elements of people, territory and government, so it is usually sovereignty or a certain level of it that makes the difference between statehood and non-statehood. This refers to sovereignty that is independent of external control that has absolute power to govern, unlimited power to make laws, as manifested by power to make and change the fundamental law, which usually resides in the people. Then also does international recognition. Sovereignty at the country level has traditionally been deemed absolute and indivisible but this notion has changed over several centuries due to both external and internal entities that countries have to deal with.
Anyway, long before there was a Philippine state in the 20th Century, there were already in these islands sovereign independent nation-states that were the sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao, beginning in the 15th and 17th centuries, respectively. The relevance of this is indicated in the MOA-AD, “Concepts and Principles,” paragraph 4, with the Parties, to their credit, reaffirming certain historical truths: “Both Parties acknowledge that the right to self-governance of the Bangsamoro people is rooted on ancestral territoriality exercised under the suzerain authority of their sultanates and the Pat a Pangampong ku Ranaw. The Moro sultanates were states or karajaan/kadatuan resembling a body politic endowed with all the elements of nation-state in the modern sense.”
But that was of a time past. By the early 20th century, such historical sovereignty of the Moro sultanates was lost and since then never recovered, first under the American colonial regime and then under the newly independent Republic of the Philippines. The Moro liberal fronts of the past four decades have sought to regain that lost sovereignty for the Bangsamoro people, initially through armed struggle against the Philippine government. The negotiated political settlement of that armed conflict and its roots in sovereignty and related issues are what the peace negotiations are all about. The settlement reached with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) since 1996, resulting in a new Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has proven to be inadequate. Thus we saw the subsequent and ongoing negotiations with the MILF for a higher and better form of self-governance or self-determination for which the GRP usually draws the line at independence or secession.
That the BJE under the MOA-AD is not independent and separate from the Philippines is perhaps best shown by the characterization of their proposed restructured relationship as “associative” in several provisions, notably those under “Governance:”
4. The relationship between the Central Government and the BJE shall be associative characterized by shared authority and responsibility with a structure of governance based on executive, legislative, judicial and administrative institutions with defined powers and functions in a Comprehensive Compact. A period of transition shall be established in a Comprehensive Compact specifying the relationship between the Central Government and the BJE.
5. In the context of implementing prior and incremental agreements between the GRP and MILF, it is the joint understanding of the Parties that the term ‘entrenchment’ means, for the purposes of giving effect to this transitory provision, the creation of a process of institution building to exercise shared authority over territory and defined functions of associative character.
Shared authority and responsibility connote “shared sovereignty.” If sovereignty is to be shared by the Central Government and the BJE, then they are necessarily not independent and separate from each other. The MOA-AD speaks of a transition, presumably to what would be the final political status of the BJE, but what this might be is still subject to negotiations of the Comprehensive Compact. Ordinarily, there are three general options for self-determination, or more precisely for a Non-Self Governing Territory to reach a full measure of self-government, indicated in UN General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV) of 1960 (admittedly quite dated):
1.Emergence as a sovereign independent State;
2.Free association with an independent State; or
3.Integration with an independent State.
In the MOA-AD at least, the choice for the BJE appears to be the “free association” option, not the “sovereign independent State” option. The “integration” option is basically what the Bangsamoro people have had under the Republic of the Philippines. Note how the autonomy (which is not only in the form of the ARMM) and federalism options are not mentioned here, which doesn’t mean these are not viable options. Both the GRP and MILF are well aware, in particular, of the federalism option but the concept they preferred to use for the BJE, at least for the period of transition, was an “associative relationship.” Apart from “shared authority and functions,” the specifics of this relationship have yet to be determined in the Comprehensive Compact.
Parenthetically, some have questioned the terminology “Central Government,” saying this is proper only for a federal set-up. But it was the terminology used in the1976 Tripoli Agreement, one of the terms of reference (TOR) for the MOA-AD. And the mention in that TOR of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement, Republic Acts Nos. 6734, 9054 and 8371 are in fact indications of a non-independence option in the MOA-AD. These legal instruments in turn make their own references to the Philippine Constitution (Attention those looking for something along this line).
Aside from the provisions of the MOA-AD, UNGA Resolution 1541 contains these concepts or principles about free association, so that we might have some idea of this self-determination arrangement short of independence:
(a) Free association should be the result of a free and voluntary choice by the peoples of the territory concerned expressed through informed and democratic processes. It should be one which respects the individuality and the cultural characteristics of the territory and its peoples, and retains for the peoples of the territory which is associated with an independent State the freedom to modify the status of that territory through the expression of their will by democratic means and through constitutional processes.
(b) The associated territory should have the right to determine its internal constitution without outside interference, in accordance with due constitutional processes and the freely expressed wishes of the people. This does not preclude consultations as appropriate or necessary under the terms of the free association agreed upon.
So, much depends really on “the terms of the free association agreed upon.” This precisely is what the GRP and MILF are in the process of doing, with such terms to be found in the MOA-AD and more importantly for finality and detail, the Comprehensive Compact. We do not have any more space here to discuss examples of free association, and can only mention a few associated states of the U.S. which are of some familiarity to Filipinos: the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935-46; the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands; Puerto Rico and Northern Mariana Islands. Some of these later emerged as a sovereign independent State (notably the Philippines), others stayed as associated states of the U.S. All of them, even non-independent states like Puerto Rico, can participate as such in the Olympics, which is really the truer “United Nations.”
To sum up, the BJE under the MOA-AD is neither independent nor a full-fledged state. Given “shared authority and responsibility,” it may be safer to refer to it as a “semi-state” or “quasi-state.” Being sub-national in its territory, we might also call it a “sub-state.” This might jibe with the general notion that free associated states are usually smaller minor partners to larger major partners, e.g. an existing independent State or the former colonial power. But again, the terms of the free association agreed upon can provide for a more equitable relationship between peoples or nations which are ideally sovereign equals. The MOA-AD seems to be going in this direction, which is just as well for redressing historical grievances and imbalances. Perhaps, a best effort at an “associative relationship” should be made and be given a chance — before all concerned consider other options.
25 Feedbacks on "BJE and independent statehood"
Ric
Sounds nice, but can not hold water. If this region is created and has its own judiciary system, banking, Sharia, and all other agreed favors, nobody can stop them later to declare independence. Immediately they will be accepted by several Muslim states and that is it. Even now, the phil. army can not eliminate the MILF, the more they can not hold or invade the new “independent state” since enforcing their military will be one of the prime goals, easy to reach with the help of other Muslim states.
There is no question whether or not this MoA is the start of dismembering the Philippines.
This is so true as the statements of Malacanang are untrue that ChaCha is not for extending terms, esp. of GMA. First of all, if it would happen before 2010, it would extend the terms of all solons since they would automatically become members of the parliament. Then, it is up to them to set a date for elections and to elect GMA as Prime Minister. That is why Malacanang says GMA’s term would not be extended through Federalism and ChaCha, but only because she would not extend her Presidency term but just move to Prime Minister, which then has no limit anymore. Probably she would not care much if there is an independent Moro Stae, if only she can remein in power over the rest of the country.
ANGELIE OROPILLA
It is indeed that the BJE would have the status of a semi-state that troubles me. They could later become an independent state and our dream of a united Philippines celebrating its ethnic and religious diversity would dissipate in its wake. To give such a possibility should never be given a chance. The BJE will not solve the problem in Mindanao, it will only escalate it as what is happening now. The MILF-MNLF have always had the dream of complete independence from the rest of the Philippines. That MOA would give them the platform to declare independence and the islamic countries would only be too willing to recognize them as such. Where then would that leave us?
BrianB
First of all, I get the impression that the MILF is only interested in pride - to regain past “territories” is a matter of cultural pride. The areas included in the JBE are populated by Christians and have been under the Philippine central government and beholden to the Philippine constitution ever since there was a Philippine constitution. The life of the rebels have always been the life of insurgents. If they had proposed a constitution of their own or even an informal system of laws, I’m sure the Philippine Congress would’ve considered adopting some points from it for the Muslim areas in Mindanao, much like the exception given to Muslim men to marry more than one woman at a time.
Secondly, let’s assume that the MILF claims are true, that these territories were rightfully theirs and Christian Filipinos have only moved in recently. Let’s say it’s also true that they never accepted the Philippine government and its constitution and that they have the right not to accept these, then what this means is that we are giving territories we have “conquered” to its original inhabitants. This is like saying Americans will have to eventually give up the US. much of the world in fact will have to change to give way to all aborigines. This is ridiculous, to say the least. Giving up that part of Mindanao is tantamount to surrendering without just cause. It’s not as if the MILF have presented an overwhelming military force to the AFP, which makes such a “retreat” justifiable.
My points are: does the MILF only want a “semi-state” or “quasi-state”? This isn’t the impression I am getting. The impression I am getting is that their wish is for the Philippine nation to RETREAT from that territory. A quasi-state does not make sense, given the concessions the Philippines have already give the Filipino Muslims and only given to them. The Church of Latter Day Saints do not have a right to polygamy. So what do the MILF really want? And why is the president so enthusiastic about giving it to them?
George
Beleive me, it (the issue) is a round situation where it doesn’t have same view on each paragraph. All have different interpretations of what is stated in the MOA.
The GRP Negotiators believed it will solve the Mindanao problem.
The MILF believed they will have total independence.
The Christians believed they will be subjected to under Sharia rule.
The Muslims believed it will start war among Muslim tribes.
GMA believed it will extend her Presidency.
Presidentiables believed it will ruin their ambitions.
Last termer congressmen believed it will make them a forever congressmen or assemblymen.
Common people believed God has forsaken them!!!
Tax Joven
ARMM sprung from the barrel of a gun. So did the MOA-AD. Years of neglect shaped plow shears into arms. Our Muslim brothers had to fire shots to let us know they too exist and have needs of their own. Religion has nothing to do with it. For years, Christians and Muslims got along well as neighbors. They both shared the same feeling of deprivation until some Muslim leaders declared that enough is enough. The Muslim part in their identity was more a political statement, rather than religious. It was their way of getting outside support, something that has been denied them for years by those who are supposed to care for them.
We have to give them their due. We have to make amends. But I think the MOA-AD is doing it a bit too far. Mindanao is no longer the vast wilderness of long ago. It is now filled with much more people than the MILF followers. What right has the MILF over the vast territory covered by the MOA? Does it supersede the right of majority of the people living therein? Does the GRP have the right to give away power and lands to a vocal and powerful minority?
We can always say that this is not so. But does the MILF see it that way? We have seen that the MILF do not even have full control their own men. How do we expect them to govern the people residing in the area the GRP would cede to them? Shall we believe that they would relinquish the recognition already given them by our government? Or shall we expect some bloody power struggle within and among the various groups therein?
We grant that the MOA-AD was conceived to promote peace. Did it? Will it?
DOM
Anyway the MOA is going to pass yet fine combing. Lets put everything we think what it should be. Lets put a line there that says .’..THE BANGSAMORO ENTITY SHALL NEVER BE A STATE AND WILL NOT HAVE ITS OWN MILITARY, NOR IT WILL USE RELIGION WHEN SOUR GRAPING.ETC’
De los Reyes
THE BJE WILL NEVER HAPPEN
This government is acting like dispenser of junk foods like McDo or Jollibee giving away freebies. That’s what the MOA is all about. The government negotiators defend the MOA claiming they were buying peace in the region and must give away freebies like the entire islands of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan because the Muslims, according to the bright negotiators, have been the original inhabitants of those islands since the beginning of time. If this idiotic line of reasoning is to be followed, and since this is setting precedence, I won’t be surprised anymore when more demands come later to claim the rest of the islands since Muslims had inhabited much of the country as Ferdie Magellan discovered 500 years ago. The government negotiators are not admitting they are selling out the country to the terrorists who have no respect for the Constitution. Neither will they admit they were outsmarted by the MILF.
The peace-loving Muslim residents of Mindanao, the Muslims that adhere to Philippine laws and believe in its Constitution are the deserving ones who should have been consulted about their aspirations. Definitely not the war-freak MILF. Nothing can be more fair than that.
The controversial conditions set in the MOA are unconstitutional and will have to pass the people’s approval in a plebiscite. It will die in that plebiscite because no self-respecting Filipino will allow this country to be dismembered.
I cannot imagine how the US government would react if one day the native Indians demand the absolute turnover of the entire US mainland because these are their exclusive ancestral domain.
De los Reyes
IS FEDERALISM THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO BRING PEACE IN MINDANAO?
No it will not. The fundamental problem of Mindanao is lawlessness. Lawlessness exists in many parts of Mindanao because there is very little respect for the law. The Abus, the kidnappers, murderers and terrorists roam freely. The region has notoriously become the nation’s capital of election cheating and is the birthplace of many Garcis because the leaders and their followers tolerate it by allowing themselves to be used by unscrupulous politicians.
What’s the point of adopting Federalism when the same crooked leaders will still be there to corrupt the system? Any good government, federal or whatever, in the hands of incompetent dishonest leader will be just as bad. The local political leaders are more focused on protecting their little fiefdom than doing their part to preserve peace and help bring criminals to justice.
Federalism appeals to ambitious politicians because it will make state congressmen and senators out of those who failed to make it on a national level. On the other hand, some in the opposition oppose it if GMA will tinker with the Constitution because they are afraid GMA will find a way to stop their presidential ambition.
Rather than federalism, elect a competent, honest and strong-willed leader that can be trusted to make reforms in the present bicameral government. The practical solution for sustainable peace in Mindanao is to have a leader with strong political will against lawlessness by enforcing the rule of law and instituting economic development in the region.
titov
Is there an assurance that the BJE will not pass a law or resolution adopting Osama Bin Laden, et.al as sons and daughters of such entity?
Bart
whats the fuss all about, the MOA is just a piece of paper to put the terms and conditions of the agreement in reference to the previous ones. It is necessary to know these terms to have a perspective of what to agree on. Otherwise, all is just lip service.
everything will be debated,consultations will be given and plebicite must be held prior to enacting any of these terms…
So i dont know why everyone is in disagreement when most of them do not even live in the places where the MOA states.
A lot of theories have surfaced regarding the MOA, some connect it to CHACHA, some connect it to Martial Law, while others connect it to Federalism…..
There is a big difference between a donkey and a horse, though they look similar, they do not think alike, are you a donkey or a horse?
tolits and goding might again disagree with most of the bloggers here, i cant blame them, they dont have that much to spend on internet time…they couldnt even buy themselves a decent education…what is expected of them?
asar
sabi ni jesus dureza me consultations daw sila ginawa, 104 daw! ano feedback nun consultation, marami tao ayaw sa BJE, eh ta#ga pala sila bakit isinama pa rin nila yun mga area sa MOA, para saan pa yun one hundred four na CONSULTATIONS
titov
Soliman, the MOA-AD is now irrelevant after the MILF attacked some towns in Lanao del Norte.
We have been victims of moro tantrums since 1970’s to the present. It’s time for the government to discipline if their leaders could not. Spare the rod and you spoil the child.
saltyfish
No it will not promote peace. The facts comes straight from the horses mouth folks. MOA is a pretext for an independent, sovereign state of milf Mindanao not a federal state of The Philippines. Legitimizing this milf bandits will empower not the people of Mindanao but these terrorist before they declare independence. BJE is a joke. Look at their actions hacking and killing UNARMED CIVILIAN FILIPINOS in Mindanao. How can we expect milf to govern OUR people there? like the taliban I tell you.
MOA is a joke. They will tell you stories about Spaniards then Americans and that they are unwilling participants to be part of Philippines. (proof what they really want) What they forgot to tell you is where MOSLEM Datus came from.. Moslems claiming Mindanao as ancestral land is like Chinitos claiming Binondo as ancestral land. It is true, the Chinese have been here before them.
Determining who we are: race or religion. We call ourselves Filipinos as a race. The milf is a religious group with political agenda and that is MOLEM ONLY MINDANAO. You dont believe me, read what happens to christians in moslem countries.
De los Reyes
“MILF’S COMMANDER BRAVO STRIKES AGAIN”
What this war-freak commander has just done only shows the true character of the MILF. This is the group the GMA government wants to protect and leave them the legacy of an expanded ancestral domain where these blood thirsty killers can plunder and destroy. If this government thinks giving the MILF another Bangsamoro on top of the ARMM will bring peace to Mindanao then they don’t know what they are doing. This government forgets that the MILF is a splinter group that broke away from the MNLF during the ARMM negotiation because of their political differences. Where the MNLF was willing to negotiate for peace with the government that break-away group would not. Now that the MILF is agreeable to a peace settlement, another war-freak group is breaking away. There will be no end to this. This will go on and on and on. There is already the Bangsamoro created in the ARMM. Enough of this independent state already.
alberto
i will believe in the MILF if they will train their guns on corrupt officials in the ARMM, if they can be instruments to make elections in their respective localities credible. but they have not lifted a finger. how can they be trusted?
i will believe in the rightfulness of their struggle if they can prove to peace loving, law abiding citizens, discipline the arsonists, kidnappers, trigger happy murderers in its ranks and in the communities they operate.
i sympathize with the peace loving mindanaoans, muslim, lumads and christian settlers who have no choice but arm themselves to repel the MILF from abusing them.
what happened with the BJE and the peace negotiations to my mind is a result of putting nincompoops and trigger happy idiots to negotiate with the wily, fork tongued, but grudgingly witty and intillegent members of the MILF.
with retired generals like esperon and garcia at the helm, the MILF got what they wanted without firing a shot. esperon and garcia were more effective when they were asked to protect our people, but in the negotiating table they were totally outsmarted. a total embarassment.
when the people to be affected by their indiscretion and betrayal to the constitution vented out the real sentiments, the raided pikit, aleosan and other towns in north cotabato, pillaged kauswagan and kolambogan in lanao del norte and drummed up war, again in mindanao.
the presentation of atty. soliman at least looked logical and feasible on paper. but when you put faces, real faces of mindanaoans on the pages of the paper he wrote on, you will see how far out these so called analysts who have always their day to say what they thought are right.
SELFISH. DAMN….
bart
This blog is funny, alot of accusssations and bling blings…we must check our sources well, we may be in for a game, a fascade of what actually goes in.
I remember the story of a priest in basilan who testified against the military regarding the abu sayaf siege. He claimed to have seen the abu sayaf group giving away a black suitcase which suppossed to contained millions of dollars. The abu sayaf was conned, the military gave them fake dollars, the ones that were collected from ransom the military kept it, for themselves. the Abus were going this way and they are firing their guns and tanks the other way….
also in basilan they have claimed that the abu sayaf beheaded the dead marines, the people in the viilage where it happened told the news that they saw the military come in after the fight and beheaded their soldiers…
the military were the mastermind in the kidnapping of Ces drillon and others. they are also the killers of journalist and broadcasters.
Now, they are having a business picnic causing and wreaking havok, panic and fear for the sake of business…their man machinery is WAR, with WAR, a lot of guns, bullets and supplies goes un accounted for and are reflected as used, although they are sold back to the Abusayaf, MILF, NPA and other private militia…
Not everyone share the idea that peace is achieve through war, ERAP , CHIZ and BIAZON should be ashmed of themselves…Their ignorance is not their bliss, the commission on Human rights should be given a chance to investigate matters and we should not judge the scenario as what the media portrays it to be…
pathetic.
bart
why is is hard for the majority to understand that if people like independence, why not grant them. The US has independent states, in Canada , you can say Quebec is independent…
Again, whats the fuss is all about? will you be affected if people in mindanao will be given independence… It will be soon that even here in the visayas, we would ask for our independence….what is wrong is we want our own area to control, to manage and to distribute our wealth and social services evenly… and not to be given to Malacanang , only to be mis-allocated.
Again whats the fuss all about, people have become stupid these days that they say no to everything even if it does not concern them. they try to connect all the dots and pieces thinking that they are creating more solutions….we in Cebu are not solid in supporting GMA, Fake!, WINSTON garcia is a wuss, he is like the penguin if there is a next batman movie!…I wonder why they are saying that CEBU is for GMA, we hate our governor and we hate GMA….
again there is nothing wrong if people want to be alone. its their right and not ours, we are not allowed to assume what is right for others…this blog will show how brilliant we filipinos are, the people who have written here makes sense, but sense without sensibility is a total nonsense…
so here’s my two cents!
bart
Delos reyes, you are very funny, where else can we find war and freak used in a sentence…very funny~
George
If anybody believed that the aspiration of the MILF is just self-rule then you must read this first:
http://www.islam-watch.org/index.html
it will broaden your view why the people behaves the way the do in the religion
mang goding
Bart Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
tolits and goding might again disagree with most of the bloggers here, i cant blame them, …they couldnt even buy themselves a decent education…what is expected of them?
*******************************
what do you mean? am i the one being alluded to as can’t buy a decent education.
really, i don’t understand the brouhaha on this MOA.
From the word itself, you can get the meaning. Memorandum of Agreement.
It is only a cooperative agreement between parties.
It has no effect of a law, for it is not a law.
Whether it was signed by parties, it has no effect of a law.
As we all know a law must be first a bill subject to debate and interpellation, first reading, second reading and so on and so forth but it was not.
Even the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the parties of signing. Que barbaridad. How could a TRO be issued on memorandum much more prevent one from affixing signatures.
As far as I know MOA is only a guideline, policy for parties concerned.
If and when it is useful, then it is time to refer to the people concerned for referendum if they agree, then plebiscite will ensue to approve by the people.
And yet, we already speculate of every ancestral domain in every part of the country, that may result to disintegration of the philippine republic.
The worst among worst is GMA is associated to this MOA as her extension of terms beyond 2010.
MILF strikes in parts of mindanao, many houses were burned, many were killed and many were displaced.
That’s what you got. You don’t want peace, you want war.
Theotokopolous
What about the educated Filipino Muslims those that adheres to Philippine Government, those that truly put into the light the perspective of what it is to be a Muslim. They are worthy of praise for the conduct of making Mindanao progressive and they have developed businesses that have flourished in areas like Lanao. In my heart this people know how much they hate these atrocities and have seen their own brothers and sisters greed and yet, are afraid to tell the world all these, they pray with us for peace.
For those who favor this atrocities (Mr. Santos, Soliman you seem to agree with this BJE/MOA if you have questions talk to our Mayor Lawrence Cruz). Have we not seen how the Talibans ruined Afghanistan with there so-called Islamic Laws and governance, why are we so ignorant to repeat that mistake in our country. We won’t allow that.., maybe you can rally for that in your hometown.
How could God or Allah direct men (including their politicians and priest since they justified that this atrocities was an offshoot of the no signing thing… KILLING DOESN’T JUSTIFY ANYTHING. YOU VIOLATED YOUR KORAN AND YOU HAD NO ENEMIES NO ONE PROVOKED YOU, YOU’RE FILIPINO STILL) to kill children and helpless civilians for the cause of his chosen people, really? Has Allah or God come down upon you all exclusively and instructed that… Blasphemy! YOU all should be charge for that… may God himself curse all those who use his name in vain. Don’t brag about your Islamic nation thing if its very foundation is annihilation of races, discrimination, hate for other religion, and denial of freedom and co-existence. You don’t deserve it, even without religion we existed knowing there was a God up there. A God that wanted us to be rich in all things, to share and co-exist, so we may experience the fullness of his existence in us and through others. You can’t understand what I’m saying? Well too bad that’s because you’re too stupid to love all or love God. Throw your books it’s not updated its bad for you…
It only shows one thing clear about this MILF CONDUCT and Bangsamoro goal, it’s not PEACE they want but piece by piece of Mindanao and grab the power the riches and resources this land offers. It is their dream to flourish as a Nation least they forget they are Filipino; they should be something else other than that, to create a nation of their own. The past simply does not exist anymore why can’t they accept it… oh? POWER! Not Allah… Remember, wealth, resources… that can go to feed the desert wolves that support them (food for oil or money) these entire MOA, Islamic independence etc. thing are facades of the real bigger picture.
This country will not be separated by a stupid idiot running amok declaring war or politicians or clergy/priest… but only by it’s very own decent and educated people who will not stand up to give a fight to these greedy power hungry bastards.
We Iliganons will stand our ground; the new Mindanao is not about Islamic Rule we abhor that, its disgusting… you can’t even handle matters to important and simple… life.
In praise of our brave Mayor Lawrence Cruz… we will not go into the night without a fight…
wonderwoman
The way things are going on in Mindanao, although the Muslims there has some sort of rights to their land, what transpired for so many years between the government and the MILF is something to think about.
Remember that on several occasion, our government representatives went on a mission of peace to certain Island in Sulu; were mowed down by bullets from the hostile Muslim islanders? Remember how a high ranking Military Officer, again, on a mission to negotiate, went to the MILF camp, and was held hostage by a Muslim leader? Remember how several marines were massacred in Basilan while passing thru the Muslim domain?
What does all these shows? It indicates that you cannot trust the MILF, the MNLF, or any one from their side. Even the election in Maguindanao was rig, and so many electoral violations were committed in the pass, like vote buying, under age voters, flying voters, and vote buying. What do these incidents imply?
In means that you are talking to a party that does not have HONOR in their vocabulary. And taking for granted that the MOA was signed, do you think, these Muslims will not commit atrocities like what they are doing right now? They did not fight the Military, they massacred innocent civilians, young or old, and not satisfied, and they dismember their victims. They burned houses and pepper the local government buildings with gun fire even when there is no one there.
What will the government do with millions of Christians in Mindanao? Ex general Esperon is unfit to negotiate the MOA because he has already expressed his view that, one way or another, there should be a MOA for the shake of peace. Peace at whose expense? He should have considered first, the plight of the millions of displace Christians before he would even consider about this MOA.
We all know, both Christians and Muslims, that the Muslims in Mindanao wants to take back the whole Mindanao including Palawan. Our government was acting stupid from the very start of the negotiation. Why not be frank to the Muslims in Mindanao that the past belongs to the past. They should have told the Muslims in Mindanao that the whole place is teeming with people who has cultivated, who were born, and who considers their property as their own, and no one else can take these from them.
Ex general Esperon has mess up the election as one of those perceive to have engineered the cheating in the last presidential election. Now, again, he messes up with the MOA. This government does not have transparency. It acts, unilaterally and arbitrary, on issues of paramount importance which will affect everyone. Today, it may be a MOA, tomorrow, we might wake up that our stupid government has already signed a treaty.
The President, PGMA, together with the government negotiating panel, has committed, in the most blatant word, TREASON in the first order, because of these blander. A firing squad is more appropriate for these traitors.
isa
this is the philippines and it should be considered as a whole,bart did u even saw what happen to georgia,one the muslims in mindanao get what they want,the muslims countries around us will encourage them to be part of there country,if they want a muslim way of life they could always go to saudi or iran, lets not give these idiots a chance to run as all around just because they have guns..
Theotokopolous
“In order for EVIL to conquer, we who are GOOD must be silent..”
Familiar phrase anyone? Tears of the Sun (the movie starring Bruce Willis) will give you some light or a true picture of Rebellious dominion.
Whether you are educated enough to know the events erupting in my homeland can you fathom the pain of those who abruptly lost their loved ones that day or picture your own young kid around 3 to 4 years old, running around naked crying mama saying nothing but the word mama (lone survivor lost during that atrocity)
Fort he rest I’d say I’m saddened you’d care less, I guess when we are well off complacency really dampens our soul, and you have the right to view your complacency, it’s not your families or relatives being tortured and properties being plundered anyway. But enough of inflammatory dialogues we respect each others opinion, it will only weaken what we all desire for this nation. One Philippines.
Yes! I hear you. It has happened it has been done and nothing can bring back the lives of the many that have died “it is as it is”. Now, what can we do? To stop these and to punish the perpetrators, other than bellowing out loud our egoistic selves to express our sentiments and opinions about the lives of the victims both Muslims and Christians, it’s worth noting, that these area the lives of the modern Filipino people in Mindanao.
Policies change over time, people change too… and as we grow shouldn’t change grow positively too for us all as a nation? It goes to show that Education hasn’t done much to appease the issues of Modern Mindanao. What has messed it up? There are varying opposing factors to contend and that includes the government, but then again all your points are good… but its time that the very people that live in this land be consulted. What do they really want, the majority?
Too many lies have been said and actions without our knowing, created or veiled in words like “Autonomous Region”, “Peace Talks”, “MOA” and so on… which further on resulted to more atrocities, which goes to say, when one party does not agree lets punish the people so they, other parties will agree and perhaps vice versa (MILF VS. GOVERNMENT) MILF afflicts the people, Military “silent” operates, conspiring against the very people that entrusted peace in there hands.
Your comfort and silence my friend is our death (and I speak to those in Mindanao especially all the majority of educated Christians), you must choose then the lesser evil if that confuses your principle and moral, we favor peace so much, but ignorance here is the only evil that must be contained we must all be made aware, conscious of what is. What good will all these discussions or accusations of “I am right and you are wrong” thing or “these land is mind not yours” (wait till a meteor as big as Mindanao hits us all lets see what happens to all our ideologies about life, about your Bangsang Moro thing… that is if we are still alive). Maybe these kinds of heavenly catastrophe will wake up our humanity consciousness as ONE.
If the very people that cultivated these land will soon turn out to be another lost realms subdued by greed and ignorance, I chose not to be silent anymore, to be complacent about the Evil acts committed… and guess what I heard my God say… “They are not my children those that kill Children, those that lie, those that steal…” what have you heard lately?
My friends I take all your discussions to be valid, it inspires me to know that we are a thinking substance indeed, and thinking substance are alive and will permeate into things, only if these things are meant to create and flourish to another meaningful life which in turns create another fuller life.
I do aspire that we who are GOOD must not be silent. Even if it means the last option… for as long as it creates a fuller life for all…
Inshala!
Jon
Why are pro moa people telling us its just an agreement and nothing more? To even say that it has no legal value to any seperatists like MILF? Yet MILF went on rampage when it was delayed? What guarantee that REBELS will not seek more?
I just think BJE-MOA for MILF is basically the Philippine government declaring to the world that Moros rightfully are the natives of the southern part of Philippines and that MILF represents them. So what happens when they decide to declare independence? We gave them legitimacy to the land, gave them authority that they speak and represent for all southern Philippines and we already defined and expanded thier territory.
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