Elusive Peace
The Elusive Peace in Mindanao
Janet An Braza
At early dawn of Friday, August 15, 2008, it was learned that the residents in Lapayan, Lanao del Norte (LDN) requested for a military support for they were threatened during their previous harvests of their crops particularly coconuts and Gimelina trees in Upper Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.
This threat was already a problem even during the time of former Mayor Jack Maruhom. Non-Muslim crop owners and peasants were not in good terms with the Muslim landowners of the place specifically regarding to the transactions sharing of their harvests.
On Saturday, August 16, Aldrin Tan, a rich crop owner in Lapayan, had earned Php500, 000, more or less, from copra sales. In the evening of that day, he had some Maranao visitors in his home who were asking money from him. Whether he gave money to his visitors, she did not know, said his house helper, whom I had interviewed during the evacuation.
On the eve of August 17, the Muslim neighborhood in Lapayan moved out as if evacuating to somewhere. Then, at early dawn (August 18) Aldrin’s house was ransacked.
The alleged Lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front Group (LMGs) led by Abdurahman Macapaar a.k.a Commander Bravo attacked the residents of the place including the adjacent baranggays.
The house of Aldrin was burned while he was dragged as hostage to the nearest Lapayan-Larapan Bridge. Upon reaching the bridge, he was shot by some Muslim militants who were already posted in the bridge. The man, who dragged him to the bridge, went straight to Linamon bringing Aldrin’s money. Aldrin died.
Earlier on June 25, 2008, in South Cotabato, there was a big flood, the down south settlers who were non-Muslims moved their way up to the high land by boats. But when the “movers” arrived at the place, some of them were not able to settle because the Muslim dwellers did not allow them since they were seen bringing arms. So, what they did instead was to stay in their boats. At nighttime, they would leave their boats to look for fowls, crops, and the like in the place.
The movers then were accused of allegedly stealing fowls and crops of the Muslim dwellers. As a result, on June 27, they had a clash. The LMGs became suspects of this chaos. During this time also Governor E. Pinol of Cotabato had some farm harvests which were taken allegedly by the MILF. Pinol asked some help from the Office of the Presidential Peace Adviser of the Philippines (OPPAP) headed by Retired AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. Pinol asked for more ammunition for his private army to fight against the suspected MILF, which Esperon did not tolerate. (This made the affirmation that Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia said Esperon knows the dynamic of Mindanao peace very well, having spent time as commander of the 6th Infantry Division located at the East Command Center in Cotabato.
Pinol then made pronouncement against the controversial Bangsamoro Juridical Entity Memorandum on Agreement of Ancestral Domain (BJE MOA AD) between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF.
On July 17, 2008, the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Rey Sealana, said the signing of the MOA AD at Putrijaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the best way to solve the decade-old Bangsamoro problem here in Mindanao. A peace talk is a much better alternative than waging an all out war. Military action is only part of the total solution and, therefore, should only be used as the last option.
I remember General Pajarito had said that the MILF and GRP are still observing the ceasefire agreement but we have to watch out of the third party that would break the peace talk. I remember in 2003 War, the government troops were running after the kidnappers tagged as terrorists who were also kept or cuddled allegedly by the MILF. The skirmish in Boliok, Karomatan, LDN caused by only one kidnapper who was hunted by a battalion of government troops worsened the situation.
Last Monday, May 26, the MILF found out that the GRP was insincere of the peace talk. I don’t believe the MILF would wage war if they don’t have the capacity to do so.
The kidnap case of Ces Drilon, it was disclosed that her kidnappers were MNLF members who are powerful in the province of Basilan. Then, on June 26, as these scattered troubles escalated in Cotabato, the former spokesperson of MILF, Ed Kabalu, said on TV, “We are afraid of this ongoing situation now, the GRP-MILF peace talks are in limbo.”
Aware of the statement, Peace Secretary Gen Esperon, and he said, “One clear indication that we are respecting the primacy of the peace process is, we asked the CCCH to intervene during the skirmishes, and this thing as Ramadan is going on led to the de-escalation of tension now. But pursuing the criminals is still going on. There is still bombardment in the hinterlands where the government troops believed it’s the threshold of the lawless MILF.”
Asked as to what happened to the failure of the peace process as MILF Spokesperson M. Iqbal had said. The CCCH disagreed by Iqbal’s pronouncement. “There is no failure but only a temporary set back because it will still continue based on the statement of the parties involved. There was a lot of agitation against the MOA. “
The issues against its crafting and content were highly sensationalized by certain sectors that aroused public sentiments against the GRP and the MILF. The situation was further aggravated by the attacks launched by MILF members against civilian communities in Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Sarangani, and Basilan which prompted PGMA to totally scrap the MOA.
The abortion of the signing of the MOA later on became the most convenient excuse of the MILF to justify the barbaric acts of its field units to which the MILF leadership has no control.
On August 3, the Iliganons rallied wearing red t-shirts symbolizing their protest against the signing of the MOA.
During the Davao GRP-MILF briefing on August 13, OPAPP Secretary Hermogenes Esperon said the things that happened in North Cotabato was not about the MOA. Neither the problem we have in Iligan is only mistrust between the GRP-MILF.
And on August 17, at around 5pm, two bombs exploded separately in the city’s lodging houses.
On the following day, August 18, the neighboring towns in Iligan City where attacked allegedly by the MILF. When asked about the recent chaos, Esperon said, “The chaos in Iligan City, we will not let it happen as the war in North Cotabato. We know that there is some kind of misinformation being done by some groups who are opposed to the signing of the MOA. Don’t just believe in everything that is being circulated in the ground right now. They were just meant to discredit the talks.”
In the summer of 2001, there was a chaos done by the believed augmented rebel groups: Abu Sayyaf, some suspected Al Queda members, some bandits suspected either as NPA, NDF, or CPP members.
As Commander-in-Chief, President Joseph Estrada with his advisers, who found a hard time to solve the escalating war in Mindanao, declared an all-out-war in Mindanao so that the conflict in Basilan, in Sibugay Peninsula, in Cotabato, and in Lanao del Norte, hopefully would also be solved.
For Ameril Umbra Kato a.k.a Commander Kato, his videotaped statement only revealed his own frame of mind and his nature as a person. He seemed to lose his sanity when he said that the solution to the Mindanao problem is war. Kato is a violent and dangerous person and this requires us to exert more effort to locate and arrest him. What he failed to recognize is that one of the problems too is his own self who started the hostilities in Central Mindanao.
For the LMGs, they shifted from semi-conventional warfare to guerilla tactics as suggested by its ally in the CPP/NPA/NDF. This change only shows the weaknesses of the LMGs and confirms the weakening of its strength and capabilities as a result of the AFP law-enforcement operations. They could not sustain a prolonged engagement because they are running low in terms of resources. The use of guerilla tactics, however, endangers the lives of non-combatants because guerillas, in many instances, immerse themselves with civilians to avoid detection and elude arrest and, in worst cases as human shield to prevent annihilation. They do this in order to survive. The CCCH disclosed.
end
Janet An Braza
At early dawn of Friday, August 15, 2008, it was learned that the residents in Lapayan, Lanao del Norte (LDN) requested for a military support for they were threatened during their previous harvests of their crops particularly coconuts and Gimelina trees in Upper Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.
This threat was already a problem even during the time of former Mayor Jack Maruhom. Non-Muslim crop owners and peasants were not in good terms with the Muslim landowners of the place specifically regarding to the transactions sharing of their harvests.
On Saturday, August 16, Aldrin Tan, a rich crop owner in Lapayan, had earned Php500, 000, more or less, from copra sales. In the evening of that day, he had some Maranao visitors in his home who were asking money from him. Whether he gave money to his visitors, she did not know, said his house helper, whom I had interviewed during the evacuation.
On the eve of August 17, the Muslim neighborhood in Lapayan moved out as if evacuating to somewhere. Then, at early dawn (August 18) Aldrin’s house was ransacked.
The alleged Lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front Group (LMGs) led by Abdurahman Macapaar a.k.a Commander Bravo attacked the residents of the place including the adjacent baranggays.
The house of Aldrin was burned while he was dragged as hostage to the nearest Lapayan-Larapan Bridge. Upon reaching the bridge, he was shot by some Muslim militants who were already posted in the bridge. The man, who dragged him to the bridge, went straight to Linamon bringing Aldrin’s money. Aldrin died.
Earlier on June 25, 2008, in South Cotabato, there was a big flood, the down south settlers who were non-Muslims moved their way up to the high land by boats. But when the “movers” arrived at the place, some of them were not able to settle because the Muslim dwellers did not allow them since they were seen bringing arms. So, what they did instead was to stay in their boats. At nighttime, they would leave their boats to look for fowls, crops, and the like in the place.
The movers then were accused of allegedly stealing fowls and crops of the Muslim dwellers. As a result, on June 27, they had a clash. The LMGs became suspects of this chaos. During this time also Governor E. Pinol of Cotabato had some farm harvests which were taken allegedly by the MILF. Pinol asked some help from the Office of the Presidential Peace Adviser of the Philippines (OPPAP) headed by Retired AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. Pinol asked for more ammunition for his private army to fight against the suspected MILF, which Esperon did not tolerate. (This made the affirmation that Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia said Esperon knows the dynamic of Mindanao peace very well, having spent time as commander of the 6th Infantry Division located at the East Command Center in Cotabato.
Pinol then made pronouncement against the controversial Bangsamoro Juridical Entity Memorandum on Agreement of Ancestral Domain (BJE MOA AD) between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF.
On July 17, 2008, the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Rey Sealana, said the signing of the MOA AD at Putrijaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the best way to solve the decade-old Bangsamoro problem here in Mindanao. A peace talk is a much better alternative than waging an all out war. Military action is only part of the total solution and, therefore, should only be used as the last option.
I remember General Pajarito had said that the MILF and GRP are still observing the ceasefire agreement but we have to watch out of the third party that would break the peace talk. I remember in 2003 War, the government troops were running after the kidnappers tagged as terrorists who were also kept or cuddled allegedly by the MILF. The skirmish in Boliok, Karomatan, LDN caused by only one kidnapper who was hunted by a battalion of government troops worsened the situation.
Last Monday, May 26, the MILF found out that the GRP was insincere of the peace talk. I don’t believe the MILF would wage war if they don’t have the capacity to do so.
The kidnap case of Ces Drilon, it was disclosed that her kidnappers were MNLF members who are powerful in the province of Basilan. Then, on June 26, as these scattered troubles escalated in Cotabato, the former spokesperson of MILF, Ed Kabalu, said on TV, “We are afraid of this ongoing situation now, the GRP-MILF peace talks are in limbo.”
Aware of the statement, Peace Secretary Gen Esperon, and he said, “One clear indication that we are respecting the primacy of the peace process is, we asked the CCCH to intervene during the skirmishes, and this thing as Ramadan is going on led to the de-escalation of tension now. But pursuing the criminals is still going on. There is still bombardment in the hinterlands where the government troops believed it’s the threshold of the lawless MILF.”
Asked as to what happened to the failure of the peace process as MILF Spokesperson M. Iqbal had said. The CCCH disagreed by Iqbal’s pronouncement. “There is no failure but only a temporary set back because it will still continue based on the statement of the parties involved. There was a lot of agitation against the MOA. “
The issues against its crafting and content were highly sensationalized by certain sectors that aroused public sentiments against the GRP and the MILF. The situation was further aggravated by the attacks launched by MILF members against civilian communities in Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Sarangani, and Basilan which prompted PGMA to totally scrap the MOA.
The abortion of the signing of the MOA later on became the most convenient excuse of the MILF to justify the barbaric acts of its field units to which the MILF leadership has no control.
On August 3, the Iliganons rallied wearing red t-shirts symbolizing their protest against the signing of the MOA.
During the Davao GRP-MILF briefing on August 13, OPAPP Secretary Hermogenes Esperon said the things that happened in North Cotabato was not about the MOA. Neither the problem we have in Iligan is only mistrust between the GRP-MILF.
And on August 17, at around 5pm, two bombs exploded separately in the city’s lodging houses.
On the following day, August 18, the neighboring towns in Iligan City where attacked allegedly by the MILF. When asked about the recent chaos, Esperon said, “The chaos in Iligan City, we will not let it happen as the war in North Cotabato. We know that there is some kind of misinformation being done by some groups who are opposed to the signing of the MOA. Don’t just believe in everything that is being circulated in the ground right now. They were just meant to discredit the talks.”
In the summer of 2001, there was a chaos done by the believed augmented rebel groups: Abu Sayyaf, some suspected Al Queda members, some bandits suspected either as NPA, NDF, or CPP members.
As Commander-in-Chief, President Joseph Estrada with his advisers, who found a hard time to solve the escalating war in Mindanao, declared an all-out-war in Mindanao so that the conflict in Basilan, in Sibugay Peninsula, in Cotabato, and in Lanao del Norte, hopefully would also be solved.
For Ameril Umbra Kato a.k.a Commander Kato, his videotaped statement only revealed his own frame of mind and his nature as a person. He seemed to lose his sanity when he said that the solution to the Mindanao problem is war. Kato is a violent and dangerous person and this requires us to exert more effort to locate and arrest him. What he failed to recognize is that one of the problems too is his own self who started the hostilities in Central Mindanao.
For the LMGs, they shifted from semi-conventional warfare to guerilla tactics as suggested by its ally in the CPP/NPA/NDF. This change only shows the weaknesses of the LMGs and confirms the weakening of its strength and capabilities as a result of the AFP law-enforcement operations. They could not sustain a prolonged engagement because they are running low in terms of resources. The use of guerilla tactics, however, endangers the lives of non-combatants because guerillas, in many instances, immerse themselves with civilians to avoid detection and elude arrest and, in worst cases as human shield to prevent annihilation. They do this in order to survive. The CCCH disclosed.
end
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