Man has all the good intentions in the world but there is always that consequence, positive or negative, of every decision or act made that affects others. This is in reference to the so-called MILF group in Zamboanga City that wanted to put up an MILF Bangsamoro Political Office in the village of Cawit in this city.
The MILF central leadership is cognizant of the controversy but it decided to handle it in a low profile way. The MILF understands the feeling of Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar. Whoever is in her place will feel the same way. The MNLF’s siege of Zamboanga City in November 2013 is still fresh in her mind as well as to the other residents of the city especially the victims.
We are looking at various possible roots of this odd problem. First, if indeed the group is really MILF’s, then this is due to their low ideological and political consciousness. They are innocent that the MILF is still not an above-ground organization. The only deal it has with government is through the current peace negotiation. Aside from that there is none. We have to wait for the signing of the comprehensive agreement for the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the government and the MILF before we can expect some signs of transformation from a revolutionary armed organization towards a social movement. Second, there are MILF members 2013 or 2014; meaning, they have just affiliated to the MILF very recently. This is due to the positive development in the GPH-MILF peace negotiation, which is creating a bandwagon effect that cascades into the mind of multiple numbers of people, which in turn might develop or mature into a tipping point that pushes for a trend. And third, perhaps, there is over-reaction on the part of the village official who received the letter and perceived it as a danger in the offing.
We appreciated very much the matured handling of the row by Mayor Climaco. We know how difficult for her to balance the situation. Admittedly, Moro-Christian relations here are very fragile. Besides, both confessional groups have deep attachments and valid claims to the city. For the Moros, Zamboanga City had been the capital of the Moro Province from 1903 to 1913. Until 1923, the Moros were the majority group here. Similarly, the Christians considered the city as citadel of Christianity in Mindanao. The Spaniards and their Filipino allies were able to defend Fort Pilar from successive Moro attacks for centuries. They called it today, rightly or otherwise, as the only Latin City in the Philippines, because its dialect Chavacano is heavily rooted from the Spanish language.
For sure, it is not fair to assert that the Christians’ claim of residency is not valid. Similarly, it is unjust if the Moros would be denied the right of domicile to the city. Both communities have equal rights over the city. Any leader who denied this equal right and opportunity for the two groups is not fair.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/780-good-intention-but
We are looking at various possible roots of this odd problem. First, if indeed the group is really MILF’s, then this is due to their low ideological and political consciousness. They are innocent that the MILF is still not an above-ground organization. The only deal it has with government is through the current peace negotiation. Aside from that there is none. We have to wait for the signing of the comprehensive agreement for the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the government and the MILF before we can expect some signs of transformation from a revolutionary armed organization towards a social movement. Second, there are MILF members 2013 or 2014; meaning, they have just affiliated to the MILF very recently. This is due to the positive development in the GPH-MILF peace negotiation, which is creating a bandwagon effect that cascades into the mind of multiple numbers of people, which in turn might develop or mature into a tipping point that pushes for a trend. And third, perhaps, there is over-reaction on the part of the village official who received the letter and perceived it as a danger in the offing.
We appreciated very much the matured handling of the row by Mayor Climaco. We know how difficult for her to balance the situation. Admittedly, Moro-Christian relations here are very fragile. Besides, both confessional groups have deep attachments and valid claims to the city. For the Moros, Zamboanga City had been the capital of the Moro Province from 1903 to 1913. Until 1923, the Moros were the majority group here. Similarly, the Christians considered the city as citadel of Christianity in Mindanao. The Spaniards and their Filipino allies were able to defend Fort Pilar from successive Moro attacks for centuries. They called it today, rightly or otherwise, as the only Latin City in the Philippines, because its dialect Chavacano is heavily rooted from the Spanish language.
For sure, it is not fair to assert that the Christians’ claim of residency is not valid. Similarly, it is unjust if the Moros would be denied the right of domicile to the city. Both communities have equal rights over the city. Any leader who denied this equal right and opportunity for the two groups is not fair.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/780-good-intention-but
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