The Impending Tearing-Off of the Philippines

The Arroyo administration almost torn-off the Philippines in recognizing the Mindanao Independent State. Without the intercession of the Supreme Court through the issuance of a temporary restraining order, the Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) relative to Bangsamoro Juridical Entity could have been appropriately stamped “a done deal.” MILF could have shouted aloud and declared into the whole world that “Mindanao was won” and is legally authorized as an independent nation. This may become another case of non-stopping hostilities as being experienced by the Palestinian State in Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank or the Hezbollah of Lebanon enjoying the status of independent state agitating a neighbouring Israel.

 

Why did GRP negotiating panel led by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales let the MILF to win substantial portion of Mindanao and gave in to this separatist group much better concession when this group was almost wiped-out and disabled during the capture of Camp Abubakar in July 2000? The position of GRP was now carried by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and the same; they acceded to the demand of the Islamic separatist group in its claim to establish an independent Bangsamoro Republic in the pretext of lasting peace. Can it be called peace when majority of the inhabitants in Mindanao are at stake of being evicted? How did they got the authority to put in their hands the fate of the people of Mindanao and the future of a United Philippines without due consultations and evading constitutional processes? What are the hidden agenda behind this one-sided compromise?

 

What will stop the MILF to annex Davao City or Cebu City or even Manila which was formerly headed by a Muslim Chieftain -Rajah Soliman, the last native ruler of Maynilad, a Muslim Kingdom on the southern delta of the Pasig River and was considered as the "greatest king of Manila" and most important native chief when Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo landed there in 1570. (Cultural Heritage) They have tried to include Davao del Sur but were rejected in ARMM plebiscite. They’ve tried Davao City and any other areas by just pointing those lands and verbally claiming it that those were their ancestral domain. What ancestral domain they are talking about? The whole Philippine Islands is the ancestral domain of the Filipinos and no one shall ever claim or touch it or “repay with death” as the words of Rajah Soliman spread in the Spanish community.

 

We have overcome all the tests to dismember the Philippines except for Sabah on North Borneo. Malaysia has annexed Sabah and they have reason to campaign for a separate Mindanao to lessen the pressure inserted by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu in reclaiming Sabah or to increase the rate of rent being paid by Malaysia. It maybe deduced that when Mindanao is separated, there is a chance that they can annex it when they are already economically capable to court or entice the poverty burdened Mindanao through the auspices of the Organization of Islamic Conference or of foreign entities.

 

This government should be vigilant in the conduct of negotiation which tends to dismember the Philippines. Many groups will try to organize, particularly the Muslim separatists, to sow hatred, hostilities, and insurgencies to attain their objective of an independent Moro Nation. MILF have gained the support of communist-NDF and has been very cordial to terrorist Abu Sayyaf-Al Qaeda-connection in accommodating them in their camps when the police are chasing them. Nur Missuari, the organizer of the defunct MNLF, was from the University of the Philippines which is believed to be the lair of the local communist party –now evolved to green environmentalist group. It is presumed that he was inspired by the NDF to organize and campaign for a Muslim separate state and it is rumoured that he will be the President of the Bangsamoro Republic. These separatist groups will do everything, promise the moon, and employ treacherous undertakings to win their cause. And there is the reported “undue interest” on the side of the US and their role with the MILF pact as shown by the presence of her ambassador on the scheduled MOA signing in Malaysia. Every Filipinos should be on guard as there are foreign interests lurking on the sidelines ready to swallow when opportunity is at hand.

 

We are still in a primitive class in spite of decades managing our sovereign state. Our subservience to minority rule is still a chain we have not been able to loose. We haven’t been able to free ourselves from the caprice and strangulation of foreign colonizers. We continue to be lame duck majority and unable to overcome the manipulation of the privilege few. We are still afraid to say “No!” They still dictate our existence and impede our development as a prosperous state. When will we ever learn?