A mockery of PH sovereignty in MILF-held areas

The escalation of kidnap-for-ransom cases in many parts of what are traditionally known as conflict areas in Mindanao does not augur well for the development of the region. At a time when the peace negotiation between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government is set for yet another round of talks, these incidents do not speak well of the MILF’s capability to deal with criminal elements operating in its territories. Kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) syndicates find veritable havens in secessionist camps. The fact is, terrorist elements associated with al-Qaida consider MILF territories as veritable recruiting and training grounds.

For as long as the peace talks remain in limbo, government peacekeeping forces are at a disadvantage when they pursue criminal elements that find protection in secessionist camps. While many of the KFR operatives and terrorists gangs have been neutralized in encounters outside the MILF territories, a lot of them are still lurking in MILF territories waiting for the next opportunity to snatch their next kidnap victim or explode a bomb to kill innocent civilians. Such is the irony because government forces cannot conduct pursuit operations into “MILF territories” without asking permission from them.

This mockery of Philippine sovereignty should not be allowed to go on any longer.  Let’s take a page of reason and lesson from Vice President Jejomar Binay who said, when he was asked how he would deal with the conflict in Mindanao, that even though billions of pesos are being poured into the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a lot of things have still to be attended to; that government should come in with more development projects, improve governance at ARMM and, if none of these will work,  impose an iron-hand policy.

Binay is correct in many aspects. Because peace negotiations do not seem to work, there seems to be some logic in his idea on how to deal with the problem once and for all and end the poverty and isolationism of Mindanao, more so the conflict areas, by delivering essential government services and guaranteeing infrastructure development and promoting quality education.  If none of these works, it’s time to deal with the separatists, KFR groups and terrorist bands through other solutions.

We go with the strategy of Binay because the vast majority of those who want to live in peace and live normal lives are tired and weary of the endless talks that seem to be dragging on to eternity. The young generation saw their parents vainly waiting for peace to come and carrying that yearning to their grave. These days, the youth still suffer under the same conditions, hearing the same demands with no solutions in mind.

—ED PALMA,

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