Why is Malacañang hiding MILF pact?

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc, The Philippine Star, Monday, August 4, 2008

Scores of Moro separatists rampaged last week across two villages in North Cotabato, razing 85 houses and rustling dozens of cattle. The mostly Christian and some Muslim farmers ran to the poblacion for help. When none came, Vice Gov. Manny Piñol decried on radio the military’s failure to repel the marauders. “They told me they were under orders to hold their fire,” he fumed. “They were to not jeopardize the signing of the peace pact.”

That “pact” is supposed to be inked tomorrow in Malaysia by reps of Malacañang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Ostensibly it will usher in a peace with the 22,000-strong force that has been seceding from RP since 1976. The Palace has been hiding the draft, though. Residents of Mindanao and beyond who will be most affected have not been consulted. Elected Christian and Muslim leaders doubt this early if the accord truly can end war. For, the “Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain” spells a “territory” to be ceded by Malacañang to the rebels. Such territory would cover cities and towns that thrice already – in plebiscites in 1976, 1988 and 2001 – had rejected inclusion in a Muslim zone. The intended resistance of those communities could be met more harshly by the MILF, which will retain its arms. In effect, the peace pact might bring worse violence.

The pillage in Aleosan and Midsayap towns last week could be the preview. Commander Ameril Umbra Kato of the MILF 105th base command led the raiders. Muslim leaders said the terrorism was not about Islamists versus Christians but armed bands against peace-loving civilians. The pact has yet to be signed, but the MILF already is displaying its suppression tactics on areas to be put under its rule, they opine.

There’s confusion on the ground. A government peace adviser said the MILF central command treated the Cotabato incidents as police matters, not ceasefire violations. Kato’s group purportedly is a “lost command”; he is loyal to deceased MILF founder Salamat Hashim, not to present chairman Al Haj Murad, and cannot be controlled. The burning of villages allegedly stemmed from a land dispute. Even then, Piñol asked, “is this what the MOA will bring to us, the rule of roving rebels?” With the Army’s token resistance, a mix of soldiers who have relatives among the stricken farmers reportedly broke ranks to fight off the raiders.

Land is the core of the Malacañang-MILF pact. It sets as Bangsamoro historic homeland all land, rivers, seas and air “embracing the Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan region.” A Bangsamoro Juridical entity – to be led by the MILF, of course – shall have full control over police, trade, mining, forestry and agriculture therein. Extracted natural resources shall be shared 75:25 by the BJE and national government. (The STAR obtained a copy of the MOA, yet unsigned but already initialed by the chief negotiators.)

“Ancestral domain” comes into conflict with landownership as legally understood. Settlers in Mindanao who acquired land by homestead rights in the ’50s and Torrens titles afterwards could find themselves in limbo. A Malacañang executive summary on the MOA states: “Ancestral domain ... is more than just land and its proprietary ownership... At the heart of the concept is respect and acknowledgment, not only of the Bangsamoro people’s rights and freedoms, but also vested property rights and religious and cultural liberties of other peoples.” Critics have challenged the MILF’s authority to represent the Bangsamoro people, since it has not participated in any election. Incidentally the MILF wants Malacañang to scrap the Aug. 11 voting for governor and assemblymen of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

The MOA vests territory on the BJE. Forming its core are the present ARMM (Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan), plus six towns in Lanao del Norte that voted in 2001 for ARMM membership. Malacañang must hold a new plebiscite within six months from MOA signing to include 721 more barangays. The MILF calls these villages peripheries of the ARMM. But most are in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur and Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Iligan City, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, and Palawan – not only predominantly Christian but also political divisions created by law.

But this is going ahead of the conflict. Malacañang must first explain to the affected folk what it intends to do with their lives.

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The building of the first of 40 homes for the homeless will kick off the Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity’s 40th anniversary celebration. The EKIT Alumni Association has tied up with Gawad Kalinga to erect a full housing block at Recomville, Caloocan City, starting Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008.

The nationalist service brotherhood born in 1968 will also hold a two-day birthday fete on Aug. 29 and 30 at the U.P.-Diliman. Holy Mass, Balik-Tambayan, and video-ops will be held on Friday the 29th. A national convention, election of officers, and testimonial dinner-ball follow on Saturday the 30th.

The EKIT 40th will honor the founders and outstanding brods. For details, call Dante Gozum, 0918-9076281; Lito San Antonio, 0918-9014070; or Bing Villarta (40th chairman), 0905-2801782.

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E-mail: jariusbondoc@workmail.com