GRP - MILF to Sign Memorandum of Agreement
August 4th, 2008 at 1:36 am (General, National Politics)
I have been reading, reviewing, and re-reading statements, articles, and blog posts about the pending Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). And I am still confused and on the fence.
On one hand, I think that is is good that the government is finally recognizing that land, ancestral domain should be given to the Muslims who rightfully deserve it. But putting the MILF in charge might not be the best thing to do. While the MILF represent some of the aspirations and interests of some of the Muslims in Mindanao, I do not think that they fully and wholly represent Muslim Mindanao.
In principle, I do not see anything wrong with the agreement. In fact, it might just be what we need in order to finally restore peace in Mindanao, and move its people towards progress and development. However, practically speaking, with the current people in the government, and with the MILF representing Muslim Mindanao, disaster just might happen.
Already there is so much distrust in the government. Moreover, Christians and Muslims alike are already protesting the agreement. Some Muslim leaders cite that “no one had the sole right to own a place except to take care of the resources.” And putting the ancestral domain of Muslim Mindanao in the hands of one entity, without proper consultation and the consent of other Muslim groups and tribes will only lead to no good. Muslims, in my observation, are divided and defined so much by their tribes and relations, that no one entity can fully represent everybody’s interests. It can lead to war, if not between the GRP and the MILF, then among Muslims.
Another point of contention is the inclusion of barangays and villages that have already rejected via a referendum, to be included in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). And there is no referendum or plebiscite to include the voice of the general public, the people who are supposed to gain from the agreement. The agreement is between the GRP and the MILF. But what about the people, Muslims and Chrisitians, whose personal lives and business interests are going to be directly affected? Do their voices even matter?
This lack of sincere concern for the people affected, makes me wonder if the agreement is really aimed at restoring peace and serving the interests of the Muslims. Or was it crafted to serve another purpose?
Rather than clarify things, and pave the way for the peace process, I fear that the MoA has sown more discord and caused more distraught among some sectors in Mindanao. I, for one, am genuinely stressed and confused by the entire deal. I, among many here Mindanao, have been seeking out for the restoration of peace in the island.
My Muslim friend is optimistic that the agreement can bring peace to Mindanao, but he also fears it might lead to war. For one, he questions the sole representation of the entire Muslim population by MILF.
This MoA, I fear, reeks of insincerity, a strong decisive political move with many repercussions. I do not want to wait and see how it plays out because too many lives have been lost. And in the process, it has all become military and political. What our Muslim brothers want and need, in my opinion, cannot be simply answered by such military and political solutions.
Give to our Muslim brothers what they deserve: dignity, respect for their beliefs, and their ancestral domain. Give it to them sincerely, not for some political gain or for some show.
For more information and analysis on the agreement, visit these links:
Peace in our Time by MLQ3
Solving Mindanao by Angela Stuart-Santiago
The Unexplained MILF Pact Signing Posponement and The SC TRO by Ding Gagelonia
- Wyzemoro on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity
- Impeachment Intervention to Add the BJE-MOA as an Impeachable Offense
- New Hindrance to the Direct Hiring of OFWs
- Avila and Lavina Oppose JPEPA
- Rep. Edmund Reyes
dimaks said,
August 4, 2008 at 2:04 am
great post! it really pains to see this misrepresentation things. add to it the shows aimed at pleasing some groups (in the mean time).
sengi said,
August 5, 2008 at 6:27 pm
great write -up,
I believe that the MOA is a good step forward. I believe that this approach by the government is the best that have been taken so far by any adminstration.
allies said,
August 7, 2008 at 2:38 am
maybe the MOA is somehow a good step!but did we ever try to think that this would not make things easier. this would not resolve one problem but would rather create a more disaster or should i say big problem. i know our muslim brothers and sisters have all the right to be respected and should own have what they deserved to have (ancestral domain)…but is this the peace are we trying to build? separating christian and muslim people? maybe the MOA has a good plans for the near future..but its just like putting a big wall between the muslim and christian people!..its not creating
allies said,
August 7, 2008 at 2:39 am
peace! it creating a big boundary between muslim and christian..
sengi said,
August 8, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I am a Christian and I grew up in Mindanao. The MOA do not intend to build a wall between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao.That interpretation of this whole peace negotation is grossly irresponsible. The issue of our muslim brothers and sisters is not about owning. I believe it is about a way of life, thier culture and many more. Respect is a two way street, we ask them to accept and assimilate in our way of life which is what has been going on since I do not kn ow when, in the same manner that we allow them to live thiers and if we want we can assimilate with them. That is true respect.
keene said,
August 11, 2008 at 2:33 am
I am a Christian, I live in Mindano, I dont think this memorandum would give the best in Mindanao, because there will be no JUSTICE when the MILF will hand on Mindanao because MILF is not a resident of Philippines and never be in Mindanao because they are TERRORIST and indeed they are KILLERS KIDNAPPERS, HOLD-UPPERS and many more and after all the President of this nation will give a plaque of appreciation in making Mindanao out of Peace?
sengi said,
August 13, 2008 at 6:12 am
Keene,
I respect your opinion, as to they are not residents of mindanao - i have no answer to that, as to they are terorist, i wonder what they think of us???? as to they are killers/kidnappers/holduppers please read the daily paper. i am sure you will find that the same crimes you mentioned happen somewhere else in the Philippines, perpetuated by individuals other than our muslim brothers. Again - the MOA is a good first step, it needs refinement before it can be implemented. The MOA is a good beginning, at least there is a common ground that this parties agreed to build upon a lasting agreement. It’s just my opinion.
esieh said,
August 15, 2008 at 1:53 pm
moa is not the answer to restore peace. Some muslims are now divided specially here in palawan, they come here to live peace here away from armm gov. Theres no local consultation about including palawan to be part of armm. I think it will create more problems here and affecting our tourism economy. were afraid what milf could bring. It seems like palawenos voice against to be part of that community is being abolished. I hope that its not another political move that many will suffer.
leiz rodriguez said,
August 23, 2008 at 2:21 am
I’m doing a project on muslim ethnicity and honestly I still don’t understand what MOA as a whole is really about. I appreciate it if you guys can expalin further. thanks.
Human said,
August 23, 2008 at 8:34 pm
There are more progressive steps in creating real peace in Mindanao. I believe that economic prosperity and helping boost living standards is one good way (of the countless of ways) that can help bring progress to the people. In the end, this is basic to man’s survival.
A good model of Governance (especially in Mindanao) based on transparency and trust is ideal.
MOA in one way or another (no matter how good the technical aspect is) still entails powerful political backlash that can contribute to further conflict and confusion.
MOA is just a paper? Of course it is - but a powerful political paper that can damage good relationships and community among Muslims and Christians, worst case even with other minority groups.
Try to balance things out, you can be ideal - YES but also try to be realistic and look at the bigger picture.
Thank you and good day to all.
kyrie said,
August 24, 2008 at 8:21 pm
heheheheheheheheha,
melissa baguio said,
August 29, 2008 at 4:12 pm
i think moa is not the best way in taking up peace here in mindanao since it would give a separation between christians and muslims
LENDE said,
August 29, 2008 at 7:16 pm
HAY HAHAHAHAH……………
hazel said,
September 5, 2008 at 4:17 pm
i am from iligan city and studying at msu-iit. i could really see how the MOA issue created so much chaos in the city and this has brought trauma to the people especially to children. based on what i’ve heard on commander bravo’s interview that he wudnt stop the war if Muslims cudnt get their ancestral domain. i am so much pissed with this bCoz not all Muslims wanted war and most of them are not selfish enuf to get Mindanao. if we trace back history, lumads arrived first here in Mindanao before the Muslims, thus the issue of getting their lands are not not big at all. i believe that we shudnt think of past faults, we shud think of this present and what this present cud do for the better Mindanao. i shud say that there is no one who owns Mindanao. anyone who lives here owns Mindanao. anyone who was born here owns Mindanao. i respect MILF’s ideologies at some point as Muslims but on its cruelty, greediness of power and close- mindedness bwt ds stuff, i guess its too uncivilized. i am for peace and i guess all of us want to live a life with no fear and grudge. let’s not maybe think of ourselves even if humans are naturally selfish. we just need to live simple. wd dat, no one will suffer, no one will get hurt, and peace and love will prevail. (dt’s too drama but i’m serious).we cn be happy wd that.
hazel said,
September 5, 2008 at 4:25 pm
this issue is now a religious conflict already.
charLotte said,
September 6, 2008 at 3:59 am
maaring mahiwalay ang mindanao sa Pilipinas dhil maaring skupin ito ng mga MILF at maaring lumawak sa buong Mindanao ang nagaganap na terorismo s ilang bahagi ng Mindanao. Ang MOA ay maaring makaapekto sa mga taong naninirahan sa Mindanao lalo na sa mga kristyano n naninirahan doon. Ano ba ang basehan ng mga negotiators na isama ang mga ibang bahagi ng Mindanao sa pagpapalaki ng ARMM? Binase ba ito sa bilang ng mga residenteng Muslim o kya sa mga heritage. kulture, at ang isyu s ancestral domain.
kung ang blang ng mga residenteng muslim ang basehan, maari nilang isama ang barangay ng Alumnus at Alaska dhil mas maraming mga badjao doon kaysa sa mga cebuano, halimbawa, ang north cotabato,mas maraming mga ilonggong residente dun kaysa sa mga muslim,paano na ang mga ilonggong naninirahan dun? na ayaw ding msama s isang lalawigan ng mga muslim??
a suggestion said,
September 7, 2008 at 7:38 am
I agree with hazel there. but some of our brothers here just can’t live without war - you know, the chance to pull some muscles, tighten some fingers, cool some boiling blood; to emphasise one’s power and identity. we can’t blame ‘em. they’re built for that - their race is like that: warlike. you can ask the Germans about this; and the Spaniards, too. And oh, anyone who suggests to give these people work, you know, the typical life, market place, paved roads, airports, and you see what happens - they’d just want more. “Nobody gives us nothing, since in the first place it’s all ours” - that’s their cold logic for you.
This is just hopeless. A Bishop would suggest for reconciliation - but maybe in the other world is that possibility available. You can’t reconcile with someone who seeks just the opposite. Bottom line: you can’t negotiate with a guy who thinks everything is his. There is simply nothing to negotiate about. In the first place that MoA-AD is an impossibility. I suspect they’d just went over all that crap and non-sense, you know, just to please their own asses.
I give this whole thing another century. From there we see what happens.
And oh, just a suggestion: perhaps we could just place wager on this thing; the Pacquiao-Dela Hoya fight would do. Say, the MILF would wager for Manny and the GRP on Dela Hoya. Whoever wins, will take all. Simple. No war. No crap. After all, Manny unites us, is it not?
Pao said,
September 9, 2008 at 12:36 am
Why don’t we just bomb the fucking shit out of these war-loving mofos. The government and the Filipino people has been spending loads of cash for short bursts of fighting simply to stop the immediate threat.
Why don’t we just give the AFP 20 years worth of bombs, nukes, bullets and all the necessary shit to kick these assholes to hell. No more next year, no more next week; kill them all in one go.
Why talk peace with these assholes, they don’t even believe they are Filipinos, their the motherfucking Bangsamoro. This is the Philippines, if you don’t like it, get the fuck out.
We should either banish them to Malaysia or give them their 40 fucking virgins.
Php 0.02
Pao said,
September 9, 2008 at 1:07 am
This got me thinking…
They consider themselves the Bangsamoro; they are fighting to get their land and create a separate self-ruled nation; they are killing law-abiding and unarmed Filipinos.
This is the Philippines.
Since they aren’t considering our government and our constitution; we should consider them an invading force. Hence, we should impose the will and law of the Philippines and the Filipino people.
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