The 17-year peace negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) have never been easy. In fact, they have been marred not only by impasses, breakups, walkouts, no show-ups, cancellations, and verbal “wars” but also by real bloody wars. The ceasefire between them has been more breached than being honored.
Remember the countless minor fighting since July 1997 and the three major wars of 2000, 2003, and 2008? How many precious lives lost, properties destroyed, and billions of money spent to stop the war?
Frankly, there is no way these negotiations can be done again; human endurance would not allow it, and more importantly, the engagement is now on the final stretch. It is only a matter of time, God willing! before the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) will be signed by the parties.
Be not be mistaken, however, that while the body is weak after all those long drawn-out peaceful parleys (and bloody wars), but as long as the aspiration of the Bangsamoro for self-determination and freedom is not addressed, there will always be those who are ready to pick up the struggle and continue it until it succeeds. History can testify that since the war with Spain in the 16th century to the American regime in the 20th century and to this day, this flame of resistance has not died; in fact, it is getting more well-focused, sophisticated, and costly.
Indeed, the past peace journey had been hard, long, and winding, but the task ahead after the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the four Annexes (Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, Wealth-sharing, Power-sharing, and Normalization) are signed is equally daunting. Real and genuine peace is not yet in our midst. It is still a work in progress.
The solution to the Moro Question, which the two parties have agreed to find right from the start of their negotiations in January 1997, and is now prescribed in these agreements, is still not fulfilled. The Bangamoro Transition Commission (BTC) has yet to craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law and submit it to President Benigno Aquino III, who would then submit it to Congress as a certified urgent bill.
In short, it is Congress, as part of the entity called GPH that the MILF is talking to, now holds the key to solving the Moro Question by way of making a good legislation, without watering down the contents of the FAB and the four Annexes signed by the parties. It is this good sense of Congress clearly exhibited in December 2012 when it endorsed President Aquino’s Executive Order No. 120 creating the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and the statesmanship of every congressman and senator to ensure the smooth passage of a good legislation that would finally put to rest the centuries of restlessness in Mindanao. It is their collective wisdom that we can bank on for the passage of this good legislation.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/804-‘good-legislation’
Frankly, there is no way these negotiations can be done again; human endurance would not allow it, and more importantly, the engagement is now on the final stretch. It is only a matter of time, God willing! before the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) will be signed by the parties.
Be not be mistaken, however, that while the body is weak after all those long drawn-out peaceful parleys (and bloody wars), but as long as the aspiration of the Bangsamoro for self-determination and freedom is not addressed, there will always be those who are ready to pick up the struggle and continue it until it succeeds. History can testify that since the war with Spain in the 16th century to the American regime in the 20th century and to this day, this flame of resistance has not died; in fact, it is getting more well-focused, sophisticated, and costly.
Indeed, the past peace journey had been hard, long, and winding, but the task ahead after the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the four Annexes (Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, Wealth-sharing, Power-sharing, and Normalization) are signed is equally daunting. Real and genuine peace is not yet in our midst. It is still a work in progress.
The solution to the Moro Question, which the two parties have agreed to find right from the start of their negotiations in January 1997, and is now prescribed in these agreements, is still not fulfilled. The Bangamoro Transition Commission (BTC) has yet to craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law and submit it to President Benigno Aquino III, who would then submit it to Congress as a certified urgent bill.
In short, it is Congress, as part of the entity called GPH that the MILF is talking to, now holds the key to solving the Moro Question by way of making a good legislation, without watering down the contents of the FAB and the four Annexes signed by the parties. It is this good sense of Congress clearly exhibited in December 2012 when it endorsed President Aquino’s Executive Order No. 120 creating the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and the statesmanship of every congressman and senator to ensure the smooth passage of a good legislation that would finally put to rest the centuries of restlessness in Mindanao. It is their collective wisdom that we can bank on for the passage of this good legislation.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/804-‘good-legislation’
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