IAG partnered with FASTRAC, UNDP, and Notre Dame of Jolo College (NDJC) in a forum on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Jolo, Sulu on January 31st, 2015. NDJC President Fr. Romy Saniel OMI delivered the following opening remarks.

 

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Assalam Alaikum.

 

I am deeply honored and happy to welcome all of you to the second part of this very relevant topic, "Understanding the Bangsamoro Basic Law." This is a joint effort of IAG, Institute for Autonomy and Governance, FASTRAC, UNDP and Notre Dame of Jolo College that aims to provide space where stakeholders can discuss freely the issues related to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the search for lasting peace in Mindanao.

 

Mindanao peace process as espoused now by BBL has survived two recent major obstacles namely: the rejection of MOA-AD by the Supreme Court, and the Zamboanga Siege. Today many people ask: will it survive the unfortunate Maguindanao tragedy where 44 SAF members and 11MILF fighters and 3 civilians died?

 

Mindanao is so rich in natural and human resources but people are so poor. Mindanao contributes so much to Philippine economy. Why are we so rich yet so poor? We are so blessed yet we are so miserable. Its inhabitants are peace-loving and hospitable but its history is marked by wars and violence. During the 1970s to1996 – MNLF vs. AFP: 120,000 thousand died, 50 percent MNLF, 30 percent AFP, 20 percent civilian. The government spent 73 billion pesos on war materials. During the 2000 all-out war in Mindanao, the government spent 20 million pesos per day or a total of 1.3 billion pesos during the whole period.

 

Given the short history of Mindanao, I ask myself, what are really the major causes of conflict and war in Mindanao? According to the National Unification Commission there are five basic causes of conflict and violence in Mindanao.

 

First is massive poverty – because of economic inequity, particularly in the distribution of wealth and control over the resources. Second is poor governance – because of the absenteeism of elected local officials, corruption and inefficiency in government bureaucracy, and poor implementation of laws. Third is social injustice – because of abuse of those in authority and power, violations of human rights, and inequity, corruption and delays in the administration of justice. Fourth is due to structural inequities – because of control by an elite minority, traditional politicians and political dynasties, and enforcement of such control through private armies.

 

Five years ago in 2010, a few days after the tragic beheading of some 31 Marines in Basilan, I visited the Joint Monitoring Action Team (JMAT) house in Barangay Rangaban, Midsayap just adjacent to Mamasapano area. The team lived in one house: 1 Malaysian, 1 AFP officer, 2 MILF commanders and 2 Bantay Ceasefire volunteers. Col. Tocaldo was head of the team.

 

As I was about to leave, he said to me, "Father, I told my 2 MILF members that if  the peace process breaks down and the government dissolves our team, I will escort them to their camp, accompany our Malaysian member to the IMT office in Cotabato City and then I will report to our barracks. It is only then that we can start shooting. But as long as we are here, we are all brothers in the name of peace."

 

As long as there are people like them, there is hope for peace in our communities.

 

Welcome and I hope that we will have a meaningful and fruitful forum and a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the contents of the BBL for our search for lasting peace in Mindanao.