Zamboanga siege

IS THE crisis over? Was the government offensive justified? Was the rescue mission a show of force? Who will answer for those who died? Is Commander Habier Malik dead? Is the victory attributed to PNoy, Sec. Mar Roxas and Sec. Voltaire Gazmin? Did Enrile finance the MNLF fiasco? Is Nur Missuari in hot water?

MNLF is a separatist movement. I don’t believe that it is seeking a political solution to attain peace in Mindanao. During the siege, Nur was just at the background while Commander Habier Malik was engaging in a fire fight. Nur was expecting that support will come from Islamic nations like what happened during the time of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos when there was intervention from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). That resulted in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement. Marcos agreed to set up a ‘Moro homeland’ through constitutional processes to sweeten the deal.

The Philippine government made a clear stand that it would not recognize the MNLF demands for secession. Marcos had astute negotiators. First Lady Imelda was one of them. The 1976 Tripoli Agreement was bait for MNLF to have autonomy through constitutional processes to prevent a possible oil embargo by the Arab nations. The Organic Act passed under the 1986 Constitution was rejected by Misuari. For him, it does not give the Muslims enough rights to warrant genuine autonomy.

From Marcos to PNoy, the MNLF cannot be a dance partner of the Philippine government. Is the MNLF jealous because the PNoy administration started a framework of peace for the MILF? Could this be again another Moro-moro to stop the Moro crisis in Mindanao? We would like to believe that PNoy is sincere in his peace talks with MILF. The government negotiators earlier announced that the peace agreement may require amendments to the Constitution. Do we agree?

MILF dreams to have a Bangsamoro ancestral domain. The then-MILF head Salamat Hashim (now deceased) was even making a secret deal with the White House in 2003 by writing a letter to Pres. George W. Bush. Salamat emphasized that MILF is a national liberation organization, with leadership supported by the Bangsamoro People, and with legitimate political goal to pursue the right of the Moro Nation to determine their future and political rights.

If we remember right, in 2008 scores of Moro separatists razed 85 houses and rustled dozens of cattle in North Cotabato. It was Vice Gov. Many Piñol who saved the situation. PGMA during that time seemed to favor the ‘Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). That MILF pact spells a territory to be ceded by Malacañang to the rebels. Leaked drafts alleged that the following areas will be yielded to MILF: Zamboanga City, North Cotabato, and a part of Palawan.

Those who follow up the Mindanao issue would remember the pillage in Aleosan and Midsayap towns. It was Commander Ameril Umbra Kato who led the raiders. Kato’s group is a lost command and remained loyal to MILF founder Salamat Hashim and not to MILF Chairman Al Murad. That could be the reason why Vice Gov. Piñol took arms to defend his territory from the roving rebels.

To date, peace is temporary in the area of conflict. The PNoy administration should open its eyes and ears to the development of events in Mindanao. We hope for the best but we have to prepare for war. We do not want to resurrect the violence in the past perpetrated by bands called ‘Ilagas’ and ‘Barracudas’. The ‘Ilagas’ were armed Christians (Ilonggo) organized to fight the bad Muslims. We remembered Commander Bukay grilling and eating the ears of the Muslims.

The ‘Barracudas’ were the retaliatory armed groups invading Christians villages. The Ilaga-Barracuda conflict triggered the holy war (jihad). Our country cannot afford to have the pork barrel scam in one hand and a Mindanao crisis in the other hand. Those who love peace are already tired. We cannot afford to have another turning point in our history.