An Overview of the BangsaMoro Situation

The plight of the BangsaMoro persists to be refluent and the probability that brighter prospects will hold forth in the near future remains to be in a state of incertitude. As it is, the peace and order situation continues to be volatile while tangible manifestations of progress have yet to be experienced. Ironically, such a situation prevails despite the ongoing peace talks between the government and the MILF as well as the supposed advantages that the existence of the ARMM and the SPCPD would proffer.

• After nine years of existence, spanning three administrations, and after three governors - the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) has been able to pass a meager 83 laws, of which only 23 could be considered as significant. And many of the laws that were passed have remained unimplemented due to lack of funds. Furthermore, the Consultative Assembly of the SPCPD has been dormant since its last meeting in May 1998.
• Although the MILF and the National Government have seemingly been relentless in their efforts to enter into a peace negotiation, armed conflicts between the armed forces of both parties continue. Both sides have also been consistently accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
• While the government has openly declared that it will never allow any part of the country to secede, the MILF on the other hand stands firm by its conviction that their aspiration for independence is non-negotiable.

Moreover, recent developments prove to be more disturbing than encouraging for not ony do they fail to display a semblance of a positive resolution to the BangsaMoro question but rather they only tend to complicate further the already complex situation.

• After the third and final reading in the Senate, the scheduled ARMM elections have been reset for September 2000. However the issue concerning the conduct of a plebiscite prior to the ARMM elections itself has not been resolved.
• The governor, vice-governor, and all 21 legislators of the ARMM have been allowed to continue assuming their posts on a holdover capacity although most of them have previously resigned their positions in order to be able to formally file their candidacy. The COMELEC has yet to issue a ruling regarding this matter.
• The MILF amd the National Government has signed an interim agreement to start formal negotiations despite of the fact that both parties continue to oppose their respective impositions and pre-conditions prior to the conduct of the peace negotiations.

Clearly enough, such situations do not present promising outcomes. Needless to say they even foment negative implications and consequences. Meanwhile, the BangsaMoro have to contend with perennial problems such as poverty, militarization, and inadequate basic social services not to mention natural and man-made calamities.

• The 83 laws passed by the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly are borken down as follows: 23 significant, 15 appropriations; 4 created towns; 17 created barangays; 13 re-named municipalities, villages, schools, and hospitals; while the remaining 11 were amendments.
• Aspiring for governorship in the forthcoming ARMM elections are former governors Zacaria Candao and Lininding Pangandaman; former ambassador Romulo Espaldon; and Upi, Maguindanao Mayor Michael Sinsuat (said to be endorsed by the Mayor's League of the Philippines headed by San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada). Incumbent governor Nur Misuari is setting his hopes for a reappointment.
• The interim agreement entered into by the government and the MILF was signed at the office of incumbent Maguindanao Governor Zacaria Candao by the chairs of both side's peace panels in the person of Defense Undersecretary Orlando Soriano (GRP) and Ghadzali Jaafar (MILF). The signing was facilitated and witnessed by Flagship Projects Secretary Roberto Aventejado.