On the Zamboanga City Siege...

By ROD P. KAPUNAN

The renewed conflict in Mindanao was bound to happen. The agreement entered into by Aquino government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was based on the same geographical and political framework signed by the Ramos government in Djakarta in 1996. No matter how the present dispensation will deny that the agreement it signed with the MILF in 2012 was not intended to exclude the Moro National Liberation From (MNLF) nor intended to abrogate the Djakarta Accord, common sense will tell that the two agreements cannot co-exist or work side by side as contemplated by one who has managed to secure a slot for himself in the Supreme Court.

It was not a mere faux pas on the part of the Aquino government, but an indication of indecisiveness and ignorance on how to handle the problem. Everybody knows the government signed the agreement with the MILF on the basis of a strong lobby and representation from Malaysia and the US. This government acceded to the demand of Malaysia in wanting to edge out the MNLF, which is a Tausug-dominated Muslim rebel because half of the Tausugs are natives of Sabah, and their loyalty is with the Sultan of Sulo, not with Malaysia. 

When that misguided Misuari realized his objective to secede from the Philippines would not result in the merger of Mindanao and Sulo with Sabah because Malaysia would definitely object to that, he began to redefine his move. But that was too late, the Malaysians already managed to get another lackey, the MILF, another rebel group in Mindanao that has no roots and links with the people of Sabah. The Maranao and Maguindanaos are not related to the Tausugs. Now Misuari is an orphan and without a political and financial broker. 

The Aquino government should not have entered into an agreement with the MILF. That rebel group is principally funded by the ultra conservative Wahabs in Saudi Arabia, the same country now supplying arms to the Syrian rebels known as Jabhat al Nusra. It is the same rebel group that has committed acts of atrocities and cannibalism in Syria, and now pointed to as responsible for using poison gas. For that we have practically entered into a pact with the devil for while we acceded to giving the MILF a greater share in our revenue, it is also receiving funds from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and even seeking the support of the US to protect it in the event the Philippine government changes its mind in dealing with them. 

Finally, Musiari himself is to blame. He did nothing as chairman of the ARMM to improve the lives of the people within his jurisdiction. His alliance now with the group of Kiram, the heir to the Sultan of Sulo is but in retaliation to Malaysia's decision to dump him as its lackey. 

In short, this hypocritical government of Pngoy simply created a much bigger problem when it signed an agreement with the MILF, like picking up a big stone it could bang on its head.