Opinion: The politics of peace

Opinion piece posted to COMMONSENSE column in the Philippine Star (Dec 12, 2022): The politics of peace (By Marichu A. Villanueva)

At this early, the Philippines started way ahead the preparations for the country’s bid to become a voting member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) himself officially declared the Philippine bid to be elected into the 15-member-states of the Security Council in 2027 to 2028.

Addressing the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting held in New York last October, PBBM highlighted the peace efforts of the Philippines that “can (help) enrich the work of the Security Council.”

The Philippines and other UN member states may be elected to the Security Council but must be able to secure votes from two-thirds of those present at the General Assembly. The Philippines has been elected as a non-permanent member in 1957, 1963, 1980-1981, and in 2004-2005.

To bolster the Philippine candidature, PBBM cited the recent success in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a “showcase” of the country’s peace efforts. These peace efforts created the BARMM in 2019 after more than four decades of peace negotiations.

It has come into full circles when the namesake father of PBBM produced the 1976 Tripoli Agreement on Dec. 23, 1976 signed by the Philippine government with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) headed by Nur Misuari.

Todate, more than 23 countries around the world have become inter-governmental partners of the Philippine government in implementing the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), according to Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

Galvez noted such global support to the Philippine government’s peace efforts should augur well for the country’s goal to become member of the UN Security Council. As the country’s “peace czar,” Galvez echoed the concern of PBBM on the global impact of the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine that hurts smaller countries like Philippines. A five-star General when he retired four years ago as Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Galvez has been the leading advocate for “non-lethal” initiatives to win peace around the country.

“We have to break the cycle of violence,” Galvez vowed as the country’s peace czar.

Galvez is only too glad to report that the country’s peace process remains on track and is “moving at an accelerated pace.” Galvez enumerated the latest “tremendous gains” chalked up by the OPAPRU in implementing the FAB since this was forged in Oct. 2012.

Just recently, Galvez recalled, the Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) and its mechanisms have been convened. This included the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum that the Senate approved last week in Concurrent Resolution No. 5, he added. This Forum will act as an inter-governmental body of Congress and the BARMM.

But in October, two Mindanao Congressmen have filed separate bills before the 19th Congress seeking another extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). Consequently, this would mean postponement anew of the BARMM elections. Originally, it was scheduled to be held during the last May 9 national and local elections this year.

In 2021 though, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11593 that approved the postponement of the BARMM elections. RA 11593 again synchronized the holding of the BARMM polls to be held in the coming May 2025 mid-term elections in our country.

The BTA serves as the interim government of the BARMM during the transition period, “with legislative and executive powers and functions.” As provided under RA No. 11054, this Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) further specified that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) shall lead the BTA, “without prejudice to the participation of the MNLF.

On Aug. 12 this year, PBBM swore in at Malacañang Palace the new members of the BTA. Led by former MILF chieftain Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim as the BARMM chief minister and the 80 other new members of the BTA took their oaths. Of the 80 members of the BTA, 41 are from the MILF while the remaining 39 will come from the MNLF and Government of the Philippines (GPH).

Lanao del Norte Rep. Sittie Aminah Dimaporo, in House Bill 4213, wanted to reschedule anew the BARMM elections in 2028 while Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo wanted it to be reset to 2031. In their respective bills, the two Dimaporo’s cited the need to give ample time for the BTA to legislate the needed Codes and fulfill their promises to the Bangsamoro People.

Todate, the OPAPRU cited three out of the seven “basic laws” to govern the BARMM have already been approved and ratified by the BTA. These are, namely, the Administrative Code, the Education Code, and the Development Planning Code. The BTA is currently taking up in various stages the four remaining “basic laws” they will pass upon yet. These include, he enumerated, the proposed Election Code; the Local Government Code; the Revenue Code; and, the Indigenous People’s Management Code.

PBBM himself declared during the oath-taking of newly appointed members of the BTA that they must perform well in their respective jobs. By rendering good public service, the President pointed out, the people will remember them well should they run in the scheduled May 2025 BARMM elections.

When the Chief Executive subsequently visited the Bangsamoro Parliament holding its first session earlier, he encouraged them to create laws on taxations and the 2025 elections, as well as prioritize healthcare and communication. Methinks, these are clear signals the President is not inclined to postpone for the nth time the BARMM polls.

Galvez conceded politics remains the single biggest threat and challenge to the government’s peace efforts. “The political divisions and political interests undermine the peace process,” he rued.

The people of BARMM should not allow such vested political interests to spoil the peace and prosperity that they have all been working hard to achieve in Mindanao.

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2022/12/12/2230145/politics-peace