A Moro spring

The die is cast for President Benigno S. Aquino III who called for it, and the broad coalition of reform advocates who lobbied for the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, originally scheduled in August this year, to synchronize them with the local elections in 2013.

Voting 13-7 in favor, the Senate approved on third reading last Monday the bill filed by Sen. Franklin Drilon, after the House of Representatives passed HB 4146 also calling for the postponement of the ARMM polls. The House met the following day to review the amendments made by the Senate and voted to adopt the Senate version in its entirety.

But even before its signing into law by President Aquino, the House opposition is already planning to challenge its constitutionality before the Supreme Court. Minority Leader Edcel Lagman questioned the passage of the bill without the benefit of a bicameral committee despite differences in the final draft of the House and Senate versions.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, sometimes referred to as “the Senator from Maguindanao” because he alone among the Arroyo senatorial candidates survived the 2007 mid-term elections due to the votes manufactured by the Ampatuans, and was one of the seven who voted against the bill, volunteered to serve as co-petitioner and provide complainants with logistical support should the case reach the Supreme Court.

Ali Macabalang, ARMM information officer said although the issue of postponing the polls was over, “this (was) just the beginning of a continuing battle among legal experts,” and former Cotabato City judge Kadel Indar said Muslim lawyers will certainly contest the postponement of the law “on the question of constitutionality” and expressed the fear that political appointments by President Aquino in the ARMM “could open the floodgates to political opportunism” instead of bringing about reforms.

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, who also opposed the bill in the House, said he would join the Muslim lawyers who would question the constitutionality of the measure before the courts as soon as it is signed into law by the President.

The main bone of contention, it appears, is the appointment by President Aquino of officers-in-charge in the ARMM who will hold office during the 21-month period before the local government elections, which is seen as a measure intended to ease out entrenched elite politicians, some of whom helped Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo not only to steal the votes in the 2004 elections, but also kept her in power by electing into office her allies such as Senator Zubiri.

This provision was contained in the House version, and while some senators wanted it removed, they were outnumbered by those who wanted it retained. The alternative would be to extend the tenure of the present officials, which in the opinion of many defeats the intent of HB 4146, reducing it to a mere question of dates.

But the synchronization advocates composed of civil society groups, young Moro professionals, the academe and local governments, gathered under Reform ARMM Now!, are not waiting for the confrontation in the Supreme Court, as they are already engaged in what could be the toughest battle of all: to win over their elders—entrenched politicians and traditional clans who are expected to resist any change that threatens their hold on power.

They may not have the guns, the goons and the gold to go against such a formidable force, but time is on their side; they have the energy to match their passion for change and the idealism that inspires them to fight for what they believe in.

Coming mostly from the middle class and representing the various ethnic tribes that comprise the Moro peoples, they are well-educated, articulate, and they have the courage to defy outdated tradition, in a culture that is grounded solidly on time-honored beliefs and set social mores.

As expected, they are already under criticism from various sectors and their motives are suspect. Nonetheless they may very well herald what could be a “Moro Spring.”

Now that the ARMM elections will be synchronized with the 2013 local elections, will they succeed in bringing about the reforms they aspire for in the complex political dynamics of the ARMM?

Dr. Darwin T. Rasul III, president of the Bangun [Rise] Tausug! and chair of the Minority Rights Forum Philippines, admitted that the synchronization of ARMM elections is no guarantee that reforms can be fully instituted but, he said, “in a social environment that is free from traditional politics, we can begin putting up the necessary political infrastructure that will pave the way for development and durable peace in the region, and only then can we restore our people’s faith in their new leaders.”

And a very important part of making that dream a reality is choosing the right people with the same vision for change. Or it will just be another grab for power in the guise of reforms.

“Reforms are not ‘business as usual affairs,’ but a continuing process of improving and innovating in our skills in governance,” was the assurance given by Prof. Norkhalila Mae Mambuay of the Youth Geared for Endeavors, stressing that there is an urgent need to institute electoral reforms in the ARMM “that has been constantly plagued by electoral violence, massive fraud,” that such reforms must give way to the ongoing peace process between the government and Moro rebel groups, noting that both the MILF and the MNLF support the poll postponement.

And on that will depend the ultimate outcome of President Aquino’s revolutionary initiative: will it usher in a long-overdue Moro Spring, or will it end up as just an instrument for political opportunism?

The RAN has 21 months in which to answer that question.

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