A Day In The Life Of RJ

Today’s article at abs-cbnNEWS.com “From Brink of Peace to Brink of War” by Atty. Soliman M. Santos, Jr. brings to mind my long-held stand on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (BJE MOA on AD).

Over three weeks since the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the supposed signing of possibly the most controversial MOA ever crafted, it seems that we have reached a screeching halt. Temporary or not, it is apparent that it is not a good one. I would like to think that these atrocities might still have happened even if a TRO was not issued. But, as I see it, it is this TRO that has brought us to the brink of war — that is, if you still don’t consider what has happened in the last weeks as war itself. I would like to think that Vice Governor Piñol meant well when he filed the petition for TRO. As you know, the SC cannot issue a TRO unless a petition for such is filed. I would also want to think that he just got carried away by extreme emotions upon learning of the existence of such a document which he claims he was unaware of until word of a “signing” came out. It’s just hard to believe that such a document could slip past these people — “the stakeholders”. Are they saying that they never heard of such a plan or the mere idea of such even if only in passing, through regular, casual conversations with other public officials? I even wonder if they’ve actually read the entire document before rushing to the SC to request for a TRO. Because if they read the entire thing, there should have been no cause for overreaction since the document explicitly states that a plebiscite will be the determinant whether a certain barangay gets included or not in the proposed BJE. Now, if the people will really object to the inclusion is up for them to decide in the plebiscite. And how do we know their collective sentiment if a plebiscite does not happen? Does Vice Governor Pinol represent the general sentiment of his constituents? Maybe. Maybe not. But how are we to know now?

The TRO has effectively drowned the chance for peace and has now even caused all these problems we now face. I might come off as dense and naive, but hey, what else brought on these killings? It is utter frustration and the assumption of deceit that has caused these so-called recalcitrant MILF groups to run amok. Why, they thought this is a done deal as it is. And now, the negotiations have gone through terms like “codification” of terms agreed upon, “just a piece of paper”, “initialed document for preservation of authenticity” and so on and so forth. I go with the MILF’s sentiment, although I do not condone the atrocities they have committed, that indeed, it was as if they were taken for a “ride”, a “joyride”. If the Palace knew in their hearts that this MOA will indeed resolve the peace problem in Mindanao once and for all, they should have at least had the foresight that this will be opposed. And that, as such, that a possible TRO can ruin everything. Had they (the Palace) not thought of this? What with all the geniuses there? They should have at least indicated in the MOA or warned the MILF that there is a possibility of “overreaction” from the “self-proclaimed-self-righteous” people and groups and that should this happen, this should be taken by the MILF as “democracy at work” and not some plot of deceit by the GRP.

While the MOA is not fool-proof and not a “perfected document“, let us not reduce it to a mere “piece of paper” or “initialed document“. That MOA, mind you, represents and attempts to put into writing the Bangsamoro’s aspirations as “a distinct dominant people“.That MOA you call a “piece of paper” is the nearest thing they ever got to a “recognition of their right to identify themselves and be accepted as Bangsamoros“. Why do the smartest people fail to see that? They poison people’s minds with terms like “dismemberment“, “independence“, “partition” and even “secession“! Don’t they read the MILF’s website? They have categorically denied allegations of any intention to secede and of the BJE being an instrument of secession. All they want is to be given the right to govern themselves within the frame of a larger central government that is the Republic of the Philippines. So they want to form foreign relations on their own — so? So they want to have their own justice system — so? So they want to exploit and use their natural resources and share only 25% of earnings to the central government — so? Is that all bad? Well, only if you own acres of land in Mindanao and use it to enrich yourself more and impoverish the Bangsamoros and the whole of Mindanao — then that would sound bad alright — so bad that you’ll go running to the courts to file for a TRO.

These people who are against the BJE MOA, specially these politicians merely riding this issue for their own self-serving political agendas, ought to be ashamed of themselves. They have put the people of Mindanao in peril. They have made a war-zone out of Mindanao almost overnight — in what is now being considered the most damaging fight since the 70’s. And they have probably crushed all hope for a true and lasting peace. What an accomplishment. Better put that in your resumes. I hope they at least find it difficult to sleep at night, knowing that there are innocent people suffering because of them and their greed-driven motives. They should get a taste of the kind of life they have made these innocent people live. If I had it my way, I would send them people to Mindanao where the fighting is intense. I would have them left standing in the now abandoned barangays. I would have them sleep on the floor of makeshift evacuation centers that only has a roof for protection. I will make them go hungry for days on end. All the while, fearing for their and their families’ lives. I will have them wishing they were never born in the first place. Too harsh, you say? Nah. That’s not even half of what they deserve.

What’s the solution then, you ask? Stop the fighting. The AFP has pushed the rebels into the outskirts of the towns anyway. Let the AFP and PNP secure the barangays first — together with those deputized civilians they plan to give 1,000 shotguns to. Let the people go back to their homes. Let Malacanang release funds from the EVAT windfall to provide economic and medical assistance to those displaced by the fighting. Run after the erring MILF groups of Umbra Kato, Bravo and Pangalian. Get Malaysia to play arbiter again. Let the GRP and MILF go back to the negotiating table. If the MOA needs to be revised, then so be it. Call on another LEDAC meeting and involve everyone on the peace process and its progress.

If it is BJE they want, why not give it to them? It is their birthright. And don’t give me that counter-argument history bullsh*t. Their ancestral domain has never been ours to defend and keep anyway. Why be so greedy? If this is what it will take to finally settle the long-standing conflict in Mindanao, then why not?

To those who oppose the BJE MOA for their ulterior motives, may you be damned. You and your vision of a territorially-united yet war-torn Philippines is sickening. It seems to me that you are more willing to sacrifice precious human lives than sit down and negotiate. You can go take yourself and that vision of yours to hell for all I care. One more life lost to war doesn’t matter to you anyway.

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