CAUSE FOR ALARM

CAUSE FOR ALARM

Ben Contreras

The peace negotiations between our government and the MILF was reported to have collapsed. Whether that should be a reason for joy or not, lets go back a few weeks earlier.

I got a surprise package said to be from a group of people wary of the peace negotiations that were going on. They became alarmed when they learned of the signing of the agreement outside the country because accordingly, practically almost the whole of Mindanao would be under the control of the Muslim brothers except Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin Island.

Initially, I didn’t take it seriously and did not read the other documents given me, thinking that it was an unlikely scenario under a territory dominated by Christians but not until July 23.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer carried a report that day that Governor Piñol of Cotabato (actually Vice Governor) officially asked the government to make the agreement between the government and the MILF public. Piñol seemed to be suspicious of the contents of the agreement and hinted that the people of Mindanao have not been properly consulted. Its short of saying its going to be a sellout.

Why would Piñol sound the alarm? What does he know of the agreement? What do the people of Mindanao know and do not know?

Based on the information provided to me, Mindanao has a Christian population of more or less 25 million. Our Muslim brothers are about five million. The indigenous people are about 3.5 million. They are asking this question now. Why would a people whose number is less than 20% of the total population take control of around 90% of a territory like Mindanao? This group feels that it is not acceptable. While they do not suggest open hostility as a consequence, this road (the agreement) if take without proper consultation would lead to that.

In the meantime, before I write more based on the documents sent to me, I saw wisdom in the official request of Piñol for the government to make public the complete text of the supposed agreement.

People of Mindanao should demand no less. The collapse of the negotiations should not be a reason for the people of Mindanao to loosen their guard.