We view with great discernment the manifesto signed by 31 former officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) expressing their collective opposition or rejection of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
While
we respect their views and the reasons for coming out with the manifesto but we
keep asking ourselves “why only now and why?” The military has always
been part of the peace process of the MILF since 1996. As a matter of fact, of
the 11 government chief peace negotiators since July 1996, the first three as
well as the ninth were military people namely, Lt. Gen. Fortunato Abat, Maj.
Gen. Orlando Soriano, Maj. Gen. Edgardo Batenga, and Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia of
the “famed” or “hated” Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), respectively.
There were or are other high military or police officers involved deeply in the
peace process especially in the aspect of the ceasefire. They included the late
two AFP chiefs of staff, Jocelyn Nazareno and Angelo Reyes.
Of course, we do not know all of the officers listed in the paid advertisement but surely we know many of them closely either in combat or in peace-making. In particular, we can include General Renato de Villa, Major General Jose Magno Jr., Brig. Gen. Rodrigo Gutang, and General Alexander Yano, all retired. De Villa attended the signing of the General Cessation of Hostilities in Cagayan de Oro City on July 18, 1997; Magno, who later became commander of the Central Mindanao Command (CENCOM) on March 5, 1986, saw action, among others, in Lanao del Sur especially in the assault of Nusa Island in Lake Lanao, an MILF base, in November 1977 where government forces suffered heavy casualties; Yano was once the chair of the government Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH); and Gutang, CENCOM commander in 1986, figured out prominently during an incident involving some key officials of the MILF in Marawi City in 1987. The impression created out of him is that he is more of a diplomat rather a military man on the way he masterly handled the incident. Many Moros had a high regard of him, as a consequence.
In fairness, in our years of dealing with them we found them not only fine military men but were also good in peace-making. In some instances, it is easier to deal with military men compared to others whose professions and forte is the play of words or rhetoric.
But frankly speaking we find hard time understanding their view related to forging agreements in negotiations. Why did they speak now when the BBL is already on the verge of passing (or not passing) in Congress and the election fever is already felt strongly? The truth is that they may have the best of intentions but the timing seems not perfect.
Moreover, we are sure that they know the nature of negotiation. It is essentially giving and taking and taking and giving. It is not a one-way traffic. One cannot impose on the other party; that is not negotiation. The government had tried this approach, at least three times: 2000 all-out war, 2003 all-out war, and 2008 war after the MOA-AD was declared unconstitutional. Each time this approach was tried or resorted to, it always forced the parties to resume the peaceful path of negotiation. The MILF is game (and sincere) in talking peace but it is also ready to defend itself at all times.
As to their support for the declaration of the CAB as unconstitutional and void, we find it also very hard to understand the wisdom. Such an eventuality would have radical and adverse consequence to the whole peace process and ceasefire with the MILF
Of course, we do not know all of the officers listed in the paid advertisement but surely we know many of them closely either in combat or in peace-making. In particular, we can include General Renato de Villa, Major General Jose Magno Jr., Brig. Gen. Rodrigo Gutang, and General Alexander Yano, all retired. De Villa attended the signing of the General Cessation of Hostilities in Cagayan de Oro City on July 18, 1997; Magno, who later became commander of the Central Mindanao Command (CENCOM) on March 5, 1986, saw action, among others, in Lanao del Sur especially in the assault of Nusa Island in Lake Lanao, an MILF base, in November 1977 where government forces suffered heavy casualties; Yano was once the chair of the government Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH); and Gutang, CENCOM commander in 1986, figured out prominently during an incident involving some key officials of the MILF in Marawi City in 1987. The impression created out of him is that he is more of a diplomat rather a military man on the way he masterly handled the incident. Many Moros had a high regard of him, as a consequence.
In fairness, in our years of dealing with them we found them not only fine military men but were also good in peace-making. In some instances, it is easier to deal with military men compared to others whose professions and forte is the play of words or rhetoric.
But frankly speaking we find hard time understanding their view related to forging agreements in negotiations. Why did they speak now when the BBL is already on the verge of passing (or not passing) in Congress and the election fever is already felt strongly? The truth is that they may have the best of intentions but the timing seems not perfect.
Moreover, we are sure that they know the nature of negotiation. It is essentially giving and taking and taking and giving. It is not a one-way traffic. One cannot impose on the other party; that is not negotiation. The government had tried this approach, at least three times: 2000 all-out war, 2003 all-out war, and 2008 war after the MOA-AD was declared unconstitutional. Each time this approach was tried or resorted to, it always forced the parties to resume the peaceful path of negotiation. The MILF is game (and sincere) in talking peace but it is also ready to defend itself at all times.
As to their support for the declaration of the CAB as unconstitutional and void, we find it also very hard to understand the wisdom. Such an eventuality would have radical and adverse consequence to the whole peace process and ceasefire with the MILF
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/571-why-only-now-and-why
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