3 articles

From Prison Walls to Places in Mindanao for Peace
By Janet S. Braza




          This month I met a gentleman in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. In his mid-50s, he is meek and an intellectual. Prof. Nur Misuari, a leader in the Bangsamoro and the chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is advocating peace in Mindanao.
Nur’s ancestor is Lapu-Lapu of the Baringi Tribe. Lapu-Lapu is a brave warrior in the Philippine Islands. After the conquest of Magellan, however, the Baringi tribesmen went up shore to the Sibugay Peninsula, settled in an island where Nur was nurtured to be the defender of the Muslim Tribes.
Nur was imprisoned for six years. In jail he kept silent. Nobody in the 15 councils of the MNLF he created did not strive their best to at least save him from prison walls. For four years in jail the neighboring Muslim countries never know that Nur was imprisoned.
There’s only one group that patiently requested the Organization of the Islamic Councils (OIC) working for Nur’s case to close. Because the Supreme Court found out that, there is no reason that he will be sentenced without a cause, he is released.

After he was released from jail, Nur continue his work as the defender of the Islam faith. He requested an assembly held at Davao on the 22-26 of May 2008. From there on he moves from places to places every region in Mindanao, lecturing fellow Muslims that the peace talk is on going, it can never be derailed, as Nur is dynamic to continue this task to achieve the real peace in Mindanao. What should be done, shall be done, the peace talk is on alignment with good leaders, it is on its way, ripe for its proper procedure. He claimed that the MNLF is the champion of peace.

Moreover, as to quote the chairman of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (GRP-CCCH) said, “It’s the best way to solve the decades old Bangsamoro problem here in Mindanao. Peace talk to arrive at a negotiated political solution beneficial to all is a much better alternative to waging all out war. Military solution is only part of the total solution and should only be used as last option. “ -Bgen Reynaldo D Sealana AFP

Confirmed by  former AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, the newly appointed chief peace adviser, said that the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the Muslims will not be derailed. Esperon also said that half of the legislative body is in favor of federal government for Mindanao.

Nur discloses that some leaders in the government are in favor on federalism, which he is achieving to be realized this time for the Bangsamoro people. This is to say that there must be constitutional change. As Esperon said, “The realization of a federal government in Mindanao calls for a change in the Constitution.”

This last week of July, there would be a great assembly of the Muslims Tribes. To be held in Mt. Apo, Kidapawan. Where all tribes are invited, of whom the “Timuay ai Labi” as to say their address to the professor, Nur himself invited the 18 tribes includes the Lumad, Tiboli, Mansala, Blaan, Buki, Kalandig, Tausog, Meranao, Maguindanoans, Davaoguenos, Yakan, Baringi, Iranun, Palawan Tribe, Alawi, Aeta, Gali, and Higaunon . All tribes and natives of the Bangsamoro Island (Mindanao) shall meet.

Editorial

Sardines and Noodles

In his article published in Sangyaw Mindanao July 7, 2007, Atty. Plando said, “Certainly, this kidnapping incidents as in the past kidnap-for-ransom acts will serve as a black eye before the national and international community. Prospective investors will definitely think twice of investing or of pulling out from the affected locality if they had already started putting up one. And the need to resolve the kidnapping with dispatch could not be overemphasized.”

With its wondrous tourist spots, the Philippines is one of the best countries in Asia, so to speak. It has been visited by foreigners and tourists because of its good reputation. For this reason. hotel and restaurant business here becomes so lucrative--number of hotels, boarding houses increase and pop up like mushrooms. But recently, another kind of business is so in demand. This is the selling of sardines and noodles.

Sardines and noodles are the usual food served by kidnappers to their victims. What is good with the kidnappers nowadays is they no longer ask for ransom in exchange of the release of their victims. What they will ask instead is the so-called “board and lodging” fee—the payment they will ask for the accommodation they accord to the victims while the former are still in their hands. For the victims’ boarding, they have sardines and noodles. For their lodging, they sleep on the ground, as some victims confide.

Obviously, the sardines and noodles business becomes so enterprising nowadays because for this year (and year 2008 is still a long way to end), we have another line up of kidnap victims. First, we have the two Koreans: Victor Macasera and JungTae Yung kidnapped early April. Then, we have Ces Drilon and company with Prof. Dinampo of MSU-Tawi-Tawi, kidnapped last month of June. Five days after Ces and company were released, five engineers in Sibugay followed. A week after, June 22, Dr. Lolita Rodriguez, a retired professor of MSU-Marawi and is now an academic consultant of Jamiatu Mindanao Islamia Foundation (JMIF) in Marawi City was kidnapped and was released on June 24.

But the kidnapping in June did not stop after the release of Rodriguez. In June 26, two days after Rodriguez was freed, one Armak jeep loaded with faculty members and staff of MSU-Marawi was flagged down and two of them were taken separately by the kidnappers. One of the kidnapped professors, however, was able to escape, while Prof. Sherwin Nacua, is, as of press time, still in the hands of his abductors. He is now “boarding and lodging’ with his abductors for three weeks now. Presumably, his 3-week stay with them will make his “board and lodging” much bigger now. Unfortunately, this cannot be said with finality because there is news black out about him and his whereabouts.

Whatever is the story of Nacua’s kidnapping, the government, as expected, will stick to its no-ransom policy, and the kidnappers, too, will stick to their “board and lodging-fee”.

I heard from the natives of Kapai that the Koreans allegedly paid half a million pesos for the release of their comrades who were in the hands of the abductors for two months. For Ces, her own family allegedly gave Php25,000; the Drilons also gave same amount but only the cameraman was released. For the release of Ces, her crew, and Dinampo it was alleged that Php5M was asked for the “board and lodging.”  One rookie bandit hired by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was alleged to receive Php2M from the son of Indanan Mayor and the remaining Php3M was alleged to be received by a lady vice governor.

Ces related their story in ‘Kidnap’ TV footage, where she testified that they moved from place to place without a real accommodation, and they only ate meager meals a day with sardines as viands. It can be recalled that Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, last year’s kidnap victim, also confided that he ate balanghoy, noodles and sardines.

Another batch of kidnap victims: Arlene dela Cruz (ABC-CBN), Alvin Tarozza (of The Star, who died after some days he was released), photojournalists Willy Perez and Rudy Dayumgum testified that they were fed with little rice, noodles and sardines. Their release was made possible after payment was given for their “board and lodging “.

Earlier batch of kidnapping, Regis Romero, Martin Burnham and wife Gracia, Guillermo Sobero testified that they were eating hot noodles and cold sardines.

All these kidnap victims and their families alleged that they did pay any ransom but they only paid for the “board and lodging,” where the usual menu is sardines and noodles.

The government exerts no effort to catch and indict the person or persons responsible for kidnapping despite the fact that these people could easily be located. The government has, to the extent, tolerated the magnanimous business of making noodles and sardines which, becomes a more lucrative business nowadays especially that the prices in commodities are soaring high. Everyday, the possible causes of the world food problem have pointed to sharp increases in food demand, and one of these is sardines and noodles. (ends)

Symposia para sa Kabataang Mag-aaral     

Saguiaran, Lanao Del Sur – The  32^nd IB at Pawak, Arm Forces of the Philippines  (INF B, AFP) has conducted symposium with three clustering schools namely: Saguairan National High School, MSU Annex Saguiaran Community High School, and Saguiaran Central School all of Saguiaran, Lanao Del Sur held at Gymnasium of said Municipality last 10 July, 2008. The speakers were Maj. Juanito B. Virtudez (INF) PA, Bn Ex-O, P/INSP Leopoldo G. Pama, Chief of Police, Saguiaran, Hon. Halil R. Muti, Chairman of Brgy Poblacion and ABC president in said Municipality, Mr. Lawansa Simbanatro, MSU Annex Representative, and  the Assistant Principal, Mariam T. Lawi of  Saguiaran Central School.

This symposium for school kids are attended with more or less hundred fifty (250) school teachers and students. This activity is to achieve the desired effects of influencing the target audiences emotions, attitudes, behavior, opinions and beliefs favorable to the AFP and Government campaign to destroy any threats groups that hampered economic growth and development due to the unstable peace and order condition AO-wide and also gained popular support and created public awareness towards the populace.

Likewise, it also encourages and reminds all stakeholders of their participative role in the maintenance of peace and order in said municipality. Peace is everybody’s concern, without peace there will be no development and without development there will be no peace. The symposium topics were as follows: peace and order, security of TRANSCO towers, ongoing military checkpoints, livelihood programs, disarmament and strict implementation of RA 493-prohibition of unauthorized use of AFP/PNP uniforms and Insignia, observance to the provisions of the ongoing GRP-MILF peace negotiation, illegal logging, drug addiction and growing menace of Juvenile delinquency. The result of the activity was highlighted with deep appreciation to all the participants especially the teachers and students for they are now realized that their AFP cares for them which later opened up their ideas and aspirations in their quest for peace and development in their locality. (ends)