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Bangsamoro envisioned

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015 Julius Mariveles Leave a comment

A MAP of the envisioned territory of Bangsamoro, as indicated in the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), looks roughly like the one below.

Shaded on the map of Mindanao are the five provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); the cities of Marawi, Cotabato, and Isabela; six municipalities in Lanao del Norte; and 39 barangays in North Cotabato. (The six municipalities and 39 barangays voted for inclusion in an earlier plebiscite in 2001.)

The residents of these areas will decide the final scope of Bangsamoro through a plebiscite that will be held after Congress passes the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The neighboring areas may join through a resolution for inclusion from the local government or through a petition signed by at least 10 percent of “qualified” voters.

Click on the image below to read the full article on our MoneyPolitics website.

Bangsamoro envisioned

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015 Julius Mariveles Leave a comment

Click on the image below to read the full article on our MoneyPolitics website.

ARMM turns 25 today

February 17, 2015February 17, 2015 Julius Mariveles Leave a comment

Yet still no peace, no progress for Moros

By Charmaine P. Lirio

IT WAS created to ensure that its peoples would no longer be left behind in development and that they would finally enjoy peace. Yet more than 25 years after its creation, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) remains unable to deliver on its twin objectives.

ARMM represents about four percent of the country’s population, based on 2010 figures. It comprises five provinces, two cities, 116 municipalities, and 2,490 barangays. The five provinces are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Infighting among clans, clashes between the Philippine military and Muslim insurgents, and the activities of lawless elements have made for a tense and uneasy ARMM populace. Unsurprisingly, ARMM has failed to prosper, and official statistics make this all the more apparent.

FIGHTERS of the Moro National Liberation Front in Mindanao | PCIJ file photo published on October 2012

President Corazon C. Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 6734 (the Organic Act of ARMM) on Aug. 1, 1989. On Nov. 17, 1989, a plebiscite was conducted in the proposed areas of ARMM but only four provinces – Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu opted to join it. Exactly 25 years ago on Feb. 17, 1990, Zacaria Candao won the first election for ARMM; he assumed office as the first ARMM regional governor on July 6, 1990.

On Sept. 2, 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos signed a Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that led to the election of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari as ARMM regional governor.

In September 2001, at a plebiscite conducted for the ratification of Republic Act No. 9054 on the expansion of ARMM, Basilan and the Islamic City of Marawi voted to be part of the regional government.

GOVERNMENT troops deployed in Mindanao | PCIJ File Photo

In the November 2001 elections for ARMM, Dr. Farouk Hussien won as Regional Governor for the expanded ARMM and assumed office in January 2002.

However, in the subsequent elections in 2005 and 2008, Arroyo’s political lieutenant, Datu Zaldy Ampatuan won as regional governor, while his son Datu Zaldy Ampatuan won as governor of Maguindanao province.

After the Ampatuans were charged for the massacre of 58 persons, including 32 media workers in what has been called “the Maguindanao massacre” of Nov. 23,2 009, ARMM regional vice governor Ansaruddin Alonto became ARMM Governor in acting capacity.

FORMER ARMM governor and MNLF chairman Nur Misuari | PCIJ File Photo

But five governors and 25 years hence, ARMM has consistently remained the poorest region in the Philippines. Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur have always landed on the National Statistical Coordination Board’s list of top 10 poorest provinces since 2000. The numbers barely move as years pass. In ARMM, over half the number of families cannot afford basic needs such as food, housing, and clothing. By comparison, at the national level, one in four families is poor.

In 2009, the Philippines had a Human Development Index (HDI) value of .609, which placed it in the “medium human development” category. ARMM’s Human Development Index value, meanwhile, was at .35, which put it under the “low human development” level.

AN ARTILLERY unit of the Armed Forces in Mindanao | PCIJ File Photo

The HDI is an alternate way of measuring progress by assessing human development through life expectancy, years of schooling, and income. ARMM’s HDI was at the level of African countries such as Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. These African countries had Gross Domestic Product per capita of anywhere between $400 and $700, whereas the Philippines posted at least $2,700.

Among the 17 regions in the Philippines, ARMM posted the lowest simple and functional literacy rate at 82 percent and 72 percent, respectively, in 2013. Simple literacy is the ability of a person to read and write with understanding a simple message in any language or dialect. Functional literacy includes numeracy and all the life skills and knowledge a person needs to survive and function in a society.

The 2012 data of the Department of Education showed that more than two pupils shared a seat in ARMM when seats had already been adequate for pupils at the national level.

MULTIMEDIA: Slideshow of photos taken by journalist Jose Jaime Espina on 2009, a year after fighting broke out between government forces and the Moto Islamic Liberation Front after the Supreme Court struck down the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.

Worst, the 2011 DepEd data indicated less than a quarter of the students completed their elementary education in ARMM. The lowest survival rate was recorded in Marawi City and Tawi-Tawi at merely eight percent. – PCIJ, February 2015

Quotes and quips on Mamasapano

February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 Julius Mariveles Leave a comment

What senators and resource persons said at the hearings

THE SENATE resumes today its investigation into the Mamasapano incident that led to the death of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters, and five civilians.

Senate of the Philippines photo

Only the senators who are members of three committees, however, will hear the testimonies of some SAF survivors in executive session today, February 16, 2015.

We have compiled some of the important and memorable quotes from senators and resource persons, including the exchanges among them, on the first three days of the Senate hearings on the Mamasapano incident last week.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago | Senate of the Philippines photo

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago:

That is the truth, Your Honor. - Resigned PNP chief Allan Purisima when asked for details by Santiago about his participation in the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus.

There are many truths. – Retort to Purisima

Hmmm. Maniwala naman ako sa iyo. – Answer to Purisima while the resigned PNP chief was answering her questions.

Failure to convey vital information to a peace partner is a sign of bad faith. – To MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal

Can you claim with a straight face that you did not know that Marwan and Usman were operating in your sphere of control? – Sen. Santiago to MILF’s Iqbal

I get upset and outraged when the occasion calls for it.

Sino nag-udyok sa iyo na makialam ka? – Question to resigned PNP chief Allan Purisima

Lahat na lang ituro sa SAF commander, sentido komon na lang ho ito.

Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? – Question to Purisima

Kung hindi ka sana sumali baka buhay pa sila. – Comment to Purisima after the resigned PNP chief detailed his participation in Oplan Exodus

Don’t play words with me, words are my livelihood. – To Purisima after the resigned PNP chief said that he was only giving “advices,” not “orders” to ex-PNP chief Getulio Napenas

Nakialam ka eh – Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to Purisima

I’m already gasping for breath. – Sen. Santiago halfway into her interpellation of resigned PNP chief Allan Purisima

People engaged in coup d’etat plans have been in this cottage industry for so long. – Sen. Santiago after saying that she had received information that there are plans to mount a coup d’etat against the Aquino administration

Please forgive my abrasive method but I am shocked and traumatized by this event – Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to resource persons

Five million ang pinag-aawayan, 44 ang namatay - Sen. Santiago to the $5 million bounty for the arrest of Marwan, a bomb-maker who has been placed under the Most Wanted list of the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation

You have accepted responsibility like a gentleman but who are pulling the strings behind your back? – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago’s question to ex-SAF chief, Chief Supt. Getulio Napeñas

Nothing fails like a failure. – On the blunders leading to the killing of the SAF44

Anong klaseng operation to, may gulatan?

May baril siya, may camera siya, ang yabang yabang niya. – Santiago says in describing taker of video showing SAF commando shooting

Video so gruesome, it will infest your nightmares. – Sen. Santiago

Iniisa-isa sila, they were just sitting ducks there, Santiago says

You are a failure, you are incompetent – To ex-SAF director, Chief Supt. Getulio Napenas

Bakit hindi kayo pumunta ng maaga pa para hindi pa gising ang mga Muslim? Santiago asks Napenas

The SAF troopers were like rats, drowned without any prospect of support, they fought heroically but they ran out of bullets.

Ngayon lang ako nakarinig na ipapaalam mo sa boss mo sa kalagitnaan na ng pangyayari – Santiago to Napenas

You assumed responsibility for the fiasco, that is your misfortune – Santiago to Chief Supt. Getulio Napenas

THE UNANSWERED

Who informed the President? – Sen. Nancy Binay asks police and military generals. Long silence follows. No one answers.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal | Senate of the Philippines photo

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, left, attends the probe of the Upper House on the Mamasapano clash. Iqbal had just arrived from a forum in Indonesia | Senate of the Philippines photo

Let’s search for the truth, truth hurts but it shall set you free. – MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, quoting a passage from the Bible in answering a question from Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

I am so sure that not everybody will believe that the findings of the MILF is the real truth on the ground, we need an impartial body to conduct the investigation.

We have a problem now with perception and misconception.

Mahirap paghiwalayin ang mga boxers. – Iqbal’s description of the Mamasapano clash when asked why the fighting took several hours to stop

International laws apply not only to MILF but also to government.

There is no other option except peace.

What the families of the killed SAF feel is also being felt by families of the slain MILF members.

Hindi lang dapat hustisya para sa malakas, importante ang hustisya rin para sa mahina. - Answer to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano

Nauna po kami na naging biktima. – Answer to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano

Wala nang pwedeng lalaban sa gobyerno if na address na ang legitimate problems of the Moro people.

We organized dahil hindi patas ang laban.

We promised our people that peace will be our legacy, we seek your help to make this possible. – Appeal to the Philippine government.

Peace process is important to us and everybody, brought the promise of good life and our people, contains our hopes and dreams.

28 member of the SAF are alive today because of the efforts of the MILF and the “will of God.”

We cannot change the past… we must honor them by making sure that this does not happen again…Lahat tayo naghahangad ng katarungan para sa ?SAF 44 but justice for innocent civilians important, too.

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima during the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) Conference at the Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Tuesday (May 13, 2014). The Philippines is a founding member of the ASEANAPOL which held its first conference in Manila in 1981 and has been holding annual conferences since hosted by member-agencies. The PNP last hosted the 23rd ASEANAPOL conference in Manila on September 2003 | Photo by Rey Baniquet | Malacañang Photo Bureau | PCOO

BETTER DAYS. President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima during the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) Conference at the Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on May 13, 2014. The Philippines is a founding member of the ASEANAPOL which held its first conference in Manila in 1981 and has been holding annual conferences since hosted by member-agencies. The PNP last hosted the 23rd ASEANAPOL conference in Manila on September 2003 | Photo by Rey Baniquet | Malacañang Photo Bureau | PCOO

Resigned PNP Director General Alan L. Purisima:

I gave advices, not orders.

Again, when I made remarks those were mere advices.

I have to get clearance from the President. – When asked by senators about the time that he informed President Aquino about the clash between armed groups and SAF troopers on the ground in Mamasapano

0210_08

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Road to peace is crucial, it is now in the hands of the government and MILF panels.

Maraming hawks, lalo na dito sa Maynila, marami ang maiinit ang ulo.

“Bakante,” there is nothing written on “lessons learned” part of the after-operations report for Oplan Exodus. – Trillanes after reading the after-operations report of the PNP-SAF

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano | Photo from Alan Peter Cayetano’s Facebook page

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano:

I’m interested in these things. I am not an expert but I watch the movies. – Remark while interpellating resource persons about the conduct of the operations in Mamasapano.

Kapwa Pilipino ang biktima ninyo sa Mindanao. Kung hindi kayo gumamit ng dahas peaceful ngayon ang Mindanao. – Addressed to MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal who attended the hearing on the Mamasapano clash

Nagluluksa po kami, we mourn with you but one injustice cannot solve another injustice. – Answer to MILF’s Iqbal after Iqbal presented a history of massacres involving Moro communities in Mindanao

Cayetano: Kung matatalo kayo sa eleksyon… ?MIL’s Iqbal: eh di talo… Kung manalo kayo… Iqbal: eh di maganda.

Meron ding Kristyano na terorista. – To ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman who lamented that the Bangsamoro is seemingly being blamed for the violence in Mindanao

Sen. Gregorio Honasan | Photo by Senate of the Philippines

Sen. Gregorio Honasan:

How do you fight the idea of terrorism? Fight it with a better idea. – Opening remarks during the February 13 Senate hearing on the Mamasapano incident

The solution here is institutional. Even if we kill all high-value targets, Marwan has 300 graduates.

Leave a legacy of lasting peace. To acting PNP chief, Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina

Don’t die early, run after those who killed the SAF 44. – Advice to Gen. Espina

This is not an order, just a suggestion… an advice (laughter heard).

Mission accomplished but at what cost?

If Army units in Mindanao were listed as “friendlies” why were their commanders not informed about operation?

Sen. Vicente Sotto III | Photo from Senate of the Philippines

Sen/ Vicente Sotto III:

I will object if you do not allow her to speak first, Sen. Miriam will give more life to this probe. On yielding to Sen. Santiago to interpellate the resource persons of at the Senate hearing

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman:

Parang ang lahat ng kasalan ng nangyayari sa Mindanao kasalan ng Bangsamoro.

‘Walang eroplano, walang bazooka’

February 14, 2015February 14, 2015 Julius Mariveles Leave a comment

WE are reblogging this article originally titled “Q and A with MILF Commander Haramen on Mamasapano: Walang eroplano, walang bazooka” published on the MindaNews website on February 13, 2015. It includes a Q and A by MindaNews’ Carolyn O. Arguillas with Commander Haramen, operations commander of the 7th Brigade of the 105thBase Command of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

SITIO AMILIL, Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao (MindaNews/12 Feb) — The few residents living along the highway in Barangay Tuka saw the signs of war when several truckloads of “sundalo” in full battle gear arrived late Saturday evening, January 24, disembarked from their vehicles and walked to the direction of Tukanalipao, some two kilometers away.

Bai Monera, 40, said the “sundalo” left their vehicles on the road. “Sundalo” in these areas is generic for government forces in camouflage uniform and the regulation boots. Monera only knew they were “pulis” when they heard the news the next day that members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) operated near their area.
Sunday dawn, January 25, gunshots awakened residents near and far. By evening, what would be the highest death toll in a single day clash between the government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the last 18 years — 67 — happened: 44 from the SAF, 18 from the MILF, and five civlians, according to the Commission on Human Rights.

The tragedy in Mamasapano happened 10 months after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and came at such a crucial time, as Congress was deliberating on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would serve as the charter of the future Bangsamoro Government, the new autonomous political entity that both parties had targeted to install by 30 June 2016.

Click on the photo to read the full article on the MindaNews website.

MILF commander Haramen (right) is escorted by his men, narrated what happened on January 25, 2015 in an interview two Sundays later, February 8, at the cornfields in Sitio Amilil, Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao | MindaNews photo by Gregorio Bueno