Peace in the conflict areas of Mindanao is within sight but the road towards it is fraught with so many hazards and snipes from various persuasions which cannot live in peace. While the covenant proclaiming the MILF and government commitment to create a Bangsamoro land had been signed in the most auspicious arena and with the most audacious display of adherence to work for stable peace, still the task ahead is extremely challenging. The consolation is that the negotiators have done away with their frivolous demands and, with their feet on the ground, have arrived at the attainable and reasonable objectives.
The bigger challenges now is with the constituents of the proposed Bangsamoro land. They have to deal with what seems like endemic intra-tribal conflicts, intractable combatants who cannot seem to appreciate what peace means to their own people who have gone weary over a futile and an unreasonable yet mythical quest for an independent state. Then they have to confront the remaining vestiges of Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf guerillas which may still be seeking protective haven in MILF territories. Never mind the kidnap-for-ransom syndicates which too operate in these territories. They can be dealt with by the combined elements of the MILF and the Philippine National Police.
And what about the Moro National Liberation Front? Their leaders are the most negative voices in the wilderness but theirs are merely sound bites now for they are among the reasons why the conflicts in the Moroland continue. If only for the shame of it, the best thing they can offer now is to quiet down and let this new quest for genuine accord attain its goal. After all the MNLF was given the chance but in the course wasted their opportunity to fulfill their mandate. But all is not lost because there are lessons to be learned even in a ‘failed experiment’. Not a few MNLF leaders have successfully participated in political exercises. Not a few MNLF combatants have succeeded in their small enterprises.
The promise and the prospect of a stable peace in the troubled lands in Mindanao have generated so much hope and enthusiasm not only within but outside the region. Foreign governments wanted to have a piece of the action to bring progress and development in the Bangsamoro which had been ravaged by war and abused by its own leaders who had been corrupted by those in the higher echelons of power.
While we have been critical of the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino, he deserves our salute in this one. Steady the course Mr. President for if this voyage finally reached destination and anchored securely on the shore of peace, we Mindanaowons, from generation to generation, will forever be grateful to you.