The need for strong state institutions in Bangsamoro areas
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:13:00 +0000
Many groups expressed good wishes for a successful plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) yesterday as Filipinos in the Mindanao areas concerned went out to vote. Some sectors even went further to forecast enduring peace in Mindanao.
Realistically, however, it is wise to recognize that our peace, security and political problems in Mindanao cannot be resolved in one or two days of balloting. Up ahead is the labor of building strong state institutions in the autonomous region.
Yesterday’s plebiscite concerned only the ratification of the BOL. Residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the cities of Cotabato and Isabela voted yesterday on the ratification of the BOL.
Another plebiscite on February 6 will cover the areas that will be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which will replace the ARMM.
In reaction to a grenade-throwing incident in Cotabato City late Sunday night, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde quickly dismissed the incident as “something personal” and unrelated to the BOL plebiscite.
Even so, the director general did not shut down the possibility that terrorist groups may be behind the attack and may seek to undermine the plebiscite. There were apparently other incidents.
In tandem with Director Albayalde, our other security officials such as Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, have been upbeat that the BOL is the key to peace in Mindanao.
A total of 20,384 combined elements of the PNP and AFP have been deployed for the voting, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff.
For his part, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, “Our troops are working overtime policing, patrolling and monitoring threat groups such as the Dawla Islamiyah, Bangsamoro International Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and others.”
In the crafting of the BOL, President Rodrigo Duterte had meetings and dialogues with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders, indigenous people, political leaders and lawmakers.
Significantly, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said it is looking forward to a planned meeting between President Duterte and MNLF Founding Chairman Nur Misuari.
An MNLF spokesman said the front is elated that the President recognizes the significance of Misuari and MNLF in pursuing lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
It is well known that its archrival, the MILF, as principal BOL proponent, is projected to lead the new political entity that will succeed ARMM.
For the new autonomous region to succeed, it is vital that representatives of all our Muslim tribal communities take part in its leadership and governance.
It was not right the first time for the Philippine government to forge a separate peace with the MNLF during the time of President Fidel Ramos. It is not right for the government this time around to forge a separate peace with only the MILF.
All Filipino Muslims should have a stake in the Bangsa- moro region.
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