Manila: Ending the conflict with Moro rebels will help the government impose the rule of law over the “ungovernable,” Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles said.
“Peace between government and MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) means peace with the largest, most organised armed group which has been fighting the government for decades. Ending this armed conflict means this armed body ceases to fight the government and instead becomes a partner in addressing the problems facing the country, including problems of lawlessness in the South,” she said.
“It enables the effective exercise of the rule of law over areas previously outside its reach and ungovernable. Certainly, that must have some value in achieving our national aspiration for shared security and shared prosperity,” she added.
Deles’ statement, which was delivered on Saturday, was aimed at convincing so-called hawks in the legislature and Philippine society general, to accept the Bangsamoro Basic Law, a proposed edict that would enable the country’s Muslim minority (Moros) to exercise relative autonomy in affairs relating to — not just observance and practice of faith, but also their distinct culture.
Her statement also said in effect the peace would not come to Mindanao unless Moros are given self-rule.
Under the BBL proposal, they would also have fiscal autonomy and have a hand in exploiting their natural resources.
Deles’ statement also came after a study funded by the World Bank which noted that political violence related to rebellion and insurgency inflicts the “largest human cost” that affects the Philippine development.
Among the products of the study was the Bangsamoro Conflict Monitoring System (BCMS) website. The BCMS is an information-based policy tool that tracks down conflicts, where these took place, their causes and costs.
This information can now be used by the government in formulating policies.
According to Dr Francisco Lara, International Alert Country Manager for the Philippines, four years of data generated by BCMS has started to yield important insights useful in the government’s efforts toward peace and development in the Bangsamoro.
“The data unveils the phenomenon of conflict strings, where identity-based issues (such as land and clan feuding) and shadow economies are prevalent (particularly the illegal trade in guns and drugs, kidnap-for-ransom, cattle rustling, illegal gambling, among others),” he said.
“The data also reveals that though shadow economy issues accounted for 20 per cent of violent incidents in the Bangsamoro in the last four years. This data underscores the strategic importance of ending the conflict between the government and the MILF,” he said.
Deles said that given government already has the tool to analyse conflict causes and bring an end to these, its is incumbent now for leaders to use these information.
“The challenge is tough but unavoidable and doable through a combination of MILF cooperation and government law enforcement,” Deles said. “Rule of law begets trust and vice versa. Together both will encourage people to choose lawful ways to resolve conflict or to sustain life,” she added.
Aside from the MILF, other groups fighting the government in Mindanao include the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the communist New Peoples’ Army.
