COTABATO CITY, Philippines - In his first State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III already signified his plan to achieve a lasting peace in Mindanao.
"Tungkol sa sitwasyon sa Mindanao: hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Iwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao," President Aquino said.
The coming years would show the seriousness of the President's intent. One year after becoming President, Aquino met with the leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Murad Ebrahim, in Tokyo, Japan.
More meetings between government and MILF negotiators followed, as both sides dreamed of the possibility of peace.
In 2012, MILF Chief Murad Ebrahim set foot for the first time in Malacanang. On March 2014, the government and MILF peace panels finally came together to sign the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Those who lived in fear after decades of war were given new hope.
MILF Chief of Operations Mohammad Nasif said that after 43 years, MILF warriors could now look forward to a time when they could live normal lives.
"After 43 years of struggle, gusto ko na ng private life. Mag-bonding muna kami kasi wala kaming bonding for 43 years," he said.
Wilma Madatu, education and training chair of the MILF Bangsamoro Women Auxiliary Brigade, wept as she foresaw the end of their struggle once Congress passed the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
"For 17 years, nagsimula kay Corazon aquino, nakita niya ang problema sa Mindanao. Si [Joseph] Estrada ang pinaka-worst na nangyari sa amin. Sinabi niya pulbusin ang mga Moro. Masakit sa amin yon. Tingin namin kay Estrada katulad din siya ni [Ferdinand] Marcos. Si Gloria [Arroyo] hindi naman masabi na maganda or worst pero don kami nagkaroon ng magandang tingin namin sa presidente nang dumating si Noynoy kasi yong sinimulan ng kanyang nanay parang pinagpatuloy niya," Madatu said.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo believes that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is not the only solution to the problem in Mindanao.
He, however, admitted it is the best option as of this time.
“Our peace and order forces are tired of fighting. Civilians are tired of evacuating. I'm sure the milf is also tired of fighting," he said.
But the journey to peace was unexpectedly derailed after an encounter transpired between the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces, the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.
The police operation was meant to neutralize international terrorist Zulkifili Bin Abdhir alias Marwan, bomb maker Basit Usman and Amin Baco.
Marwan was killed in the operation but 44 PNP-SAF troopers, 18 MILF fighters and 5 civilians were also killed in the operation.
Emotions ran high as some members of the families of the Fallen 44 blamed President Aquino for the incident.
The peace talks with the MILF became imperiled and the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law was also put at risk.
The President came out on television to explain the Mamasapano operation while reminding lawmakers that the BBL is the best chance for lasting peace in Mindanao.
Senator Allan Petter Cayetano has blamed the MILF for the loss of trust in the peace process.
"Kung hindi nila kinupkop si Marwan at kung hindi sila lumaban, hindi patay ang 44 ngayon. Tila tayo nabubulag sa pangako ng MILF at hindi nakikita na ang kapayapaang ito ay peke. Bakit pilit tayo tinatakot ng government peace panel at MILF na kung hindi ipapasa ang BBL ay magkakaroon ng gyera," he asked.
FORGIVENESS, TRUST
Mindanao People's Caucus secretary general Bobby Benito has a different perspective on the President's initiative and style of governance.
He said that neutralizing an international terrorist is a breakthrough.
"Ang tingin ko diyan medyo sumablay siya, pero may kasabihan nga tayo, the end does not justify the means. Sa puntong ito, palagay ko he is justified the end," he said.
"I am not saying na worthless yong buhay ng SAF atsaka buhay ng ibang namatay. Dapat maintindihan natin na gaNyan ang leadership. Sometimes, you go shortcut kasi hindi naintindihan ng common tao ang vision mo. Kasi may vision ka, you know how to achieve it. Along the way, may masasagasaan diyan. Magsho- shortcut ka pero at the end of the day, na-achieve mo ang mission mo na yon na. It is good for everybody, for the nation. It's a big accomplishment sa pag-neutralize ng international terrorists," he added.
Quevedo, however, said trust should be restored after the Mamasapano encounter.
"The Mamasapano incident was very unfortunate in the sense that human lives were lost. Because of the Mamasapano incident, the prejudices and biases of Christian Filipinos against Muslims as well as Moros against Christians rose again. It made the peace process more difficult. People think that the Moros cannot be trusted. At the same time, the Moros also, the MILF would say that we signed a protocol and it was violated and we trusted the government. Those are mutual prejudices and biases that create mistrust. Trust is the bottom line of peace agreements. If the other party cannot be trusted at all, then why sign a peace agreement? So we have to put again, restore trust to each other," he said.
Lugaya Ambilang, the sister of one of the civilians killed in the encounter, said she was angry and dismayed with the president after the Mamasapano encounter.
That all changed when she started listening to the hearings in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
"Hindi pa ako maka move-on. Pinapakita ko sa mga tao na ganito ako. Ang sakit mawalan ng nag-iisang kapatid. Sinabi namin: bakit ganon si PNoy? Binoto namin siya. Kahit sa malayo, hindi namin siya nakita ng personal. Binoto namin siya pero bakit ganon siya? Nalaman ko na walang kasalanan si PNoy. Doon ko na-realize na masama pala ang manghusga. Sana patawarin ako ng Allah," Lugaya said.
Since the Mamasapano encounter, the President has strived to push his peace initiative forward by urging lawmakers to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The military has launched an all-out offensive against the BIFF. Leaders of the breakaway group were captured and Basit Usman was killed, with the help of the MILF.
Aquino's ratings, however, took a hit after the Mamasapano encounter.
Only time will tell if the trust in MILF and the peace process has been permanently damaged by the Mamasapano encounter. One thing is for sure: the President will continue to urge his allies to pass the BBL before he steps down in 2016.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/07/06/15/road-peace-road-bangsamoro
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