The controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the GRP and MILF has left tons of innocent lives in ruins. Not to mention that it has put the Mindanao peace process on the brink of suicidal death. Much to our shocking surprise, no one is taking responsibility for this mess. The president's name is yet again being shielded from harm and her role being kept in the dark -- when in fact, it is quite glaring I believe, that this adminstration has concocted one big plan out of one ambitious hidden agenda, and everything just simply went wrong. Now, they are again weaving one unconvincing fairy tale beset with inconsistencies and name-pointing and hand-washing -- ah, the trademark of liars.
The MOA-AD was supposed to have been formally signed by both parties in Malaysia until the Supreme Court issued a TRO to fully investigate the contents of the agreement. Yes, it would have had taken effect admist mass protests by possibly affected residents in North Cotabato, to whom the stipulations of the MOA were not clearly defined, communicated, and consulted. It turns out then that the constitutionality of the said agreement was very questionable -- as it would have granted the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (under the MILF) a Bangsamoro Homeland, over which they would have possessed almost full autonomous powers. Some of which are the authority over foreign affairs, economic policy, their own currency, own police force, among many others.
The government claimed that the MOA would not be signed "in its present form", but a Charter Change may be needed for it to push through. Federalism, in particular, was the major change they were advocating and, it seemed, hurriedly pursuing -- as they declared that it could be and should be implemented before 2010. Perfect way to have the President's term extended, so speculated by opposition lawmakers. And I would have to agree -- for a while there, the administration used the peace process as a justfication, or better yet an excuse, to have the constitution revised.
Meanwhile, the MILF on the other hand, claimed that it was a "done deal" -- and hence threw a raging tantrum on several villages in Lanao del Norte and Sarangani. Just like a child being deprived of his lollipop, so they say.
Now because the SC has pulled a fast move on them, officials are now saying that the MOA would not be signed in its present form and "in any other form", that the president knew NOTHING about this (when in fact she actually bragged about breakthroughs with the MILF in her SONA, when in fact foreign ambassadors were invited to witness the signing), etc etc etc. Talk about another series of damage-control tactics, treating the Filipinos as if they were stupid, etc etc etc.
For this government, I've not much to say anymore. Okay, so they failed to protect the people. Actually, come to think of it, "they failed" is not the right phrase -- because they themselves have created this problem -- they have put the people in harm, out of their own doing, out of their own motive who knows what. It's state "failure" for the nth time at the nth level. What will it take for them to just simply do things right? The quality of their conscience no better than that of the MILF.
Gloria Arroyo has recently been ranked 41st among the most powerful women in the world, and rightly so for a president who has survived a series of impeachment complaints, coup attempts and corruption scandals more than any other. To what ends shall she go just to hold on to power? It won't come to my surprise if I see her successfully wiggling her way out of this Mindanao mess and eventually silencing the issue -- that is, without justice having been given to the victims. And what about our legislators? What have they done to prevent such blatant abuse of power from occurring and recurring? The Hello Garci has gone by, the fertilizers, the swines, the ZTE -- have the remedies been put in place, and if so, why are the perpetuators still stably entrenched in the bureacracy?
So now, who will fix this mess? A lot of civilians have suffered, a lot of villages were ripped apart, a lot of futures have been destroyed -- all in the name of peace?
