Tuesday, February 10, 2015

On Philippine Congress suspension of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) hearings indefinitely and their inquiry on Mamasapano clash.



It is very disheartening that the avenue of peace is now set aside, and the congress inquiry on Mamasapano, where blaming game and adamant accusations of terrorism (although the usage of this word is disputable and depends on various perspectives and cultural/spatial settings), commences. Certain individuals, driven by temporal emotions, were highlighted by the media in order to (again) dissuade the public mostly populous urbanic societies outside Mindanao (particularly the inhabitants of Metro Manila who never experienced wars after 1946) from the merits of the BBL, principles of the decade-long peace process, and centuries of injustices, massacres, and crimes against humanity perpetrated by colonizers and by both public and private institutions of the Philippine republic to the Moro and indigenous (Lumad) peoples of Mindanao (formerly composed of sultanates).

I would like to believe that there is still light and hope for the Mindanaoans (Moros, Lumads, Christians, etc.) for the peace process to continue, for the passage of the BBL (that is, the MILF accepted and is fully aware of the hurdles of Philippine legislation in order to respect Philippine's 'sacred' constitution), and for the implementation of the Bangsamoro parliament system (this year is the definite timeline set by both peace negotiating panels because 2016 is Philippine's presidential election).

If another Mamasapano incident or a greater clash may happen this year, then, for sure the peace process is absolutely extirpated. What's left for the MILF is to declare independence and establish their own nation-state (see Kosovo or East Timor). Because the Bangsamoro had had enough of centuries of injustices and they cannot afford to be subjugated, humiliated, and massacred for another century.