MALAYSIAN FOREIGN Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein bared that his country has stopped paying cession money to the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu and that Kuala Lumpur made an understanding with the Philippines that the claim by the Sultanate of Sulu over the mineral-rich state of Sabah will not be raised at any regional or international platform.
Showing posts with label Benigno Aquino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benigno Aquino. Show all posts
Friday, July 24, 2020
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Anti-BOL, Pro-MILF to vote in Bangsamoro plebiscite
COTABATO CITY – With the Bangsamoro plebiscite set on Monday, Muslims in Sulu province and Isabela City in Basilan, and Cotabato City in Maguindanao, vowed to reject the organic law which the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF is strongly pushing.
The MILF, which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014, is expected to rule the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region should Muslims voted in favor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL (Republic Act 11054) which shall replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM.
Anti-BOL advocates in Isabela City in Basilan province. (Photos courtesy of Akbar Mutamad Jann)
ARMM is composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces. A second referendum has been set on February 6 with several towns in North Cotabato with some 286,867 voters and 352,494 voters in Lanao del Norte, are included in the proposed Bangsamoro region. For January 21 plebiscite , the total voters in ARMM is 1,980,441 and 71,124 in Isabela City and 113,751 in Cotabato City, according to the Commission on Elections.
Majority of Sulu’s over 830,000 Tausug population led by their political leaders Governor Toto Tan and his father, Dr. Sakur Tan wanted out of the autonomous region and wanted to be part again of Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9.
Sulu along with Basilan and Tawi-Tawi were all originally part of Region 9 following the signing of the 1986 peace agreement between the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari and the Ramos administration. After the accord, a referendum was held following the 1989 signing by President Corazon Aquino of the Republic Act 6734, and amended in 2001 which paved the way for another plebiscite which included Basilan and Marawi City.
Misuari is also opposed to the BOL and the government’s peace talks with the MILF even in the beginning because he wanted to perpetually be the governor of the ARMM.
After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace deal, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
In 2001, Misuari’s loyal forces and former rebels who joined the Philippine Army following the September 1996 peace accord, attacked a key military base in Jolo town and civilian targets in Zamboanga City in an effort to stop the government from calling an election in the ARMM.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines and was eventually pardoned and released by then President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004. He also ran thrice for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably.
Now, when Duterte became president, he ordered police and military not to arrest Misuari - his political ally – saying he would talk peace with the MNLF, and even invited the former Libyan firebrand in the Presidential Palace to talk on the podium about peace.
Last year, the governor of Sulu filed a petition with the Supreme Court questioning the legality and constitutionality of the BOL. The Philippine Constitution Association has also asked the High Court to reject the BOL, saying the law violates the 1987 Constitution that mandated only one organic act for Muslim Mindanao.
An oral argument on the controversial law has been scheduled next month, according to reports. The Tan patriarch has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on his threat to establish a “revolutionary government,” so he could quickly reconfigure the country’s regions and shift to a federal form of government.
“Only through federalism you can configure the territories that will constitute the federal states and not cluster only the laggards together like the five provinces in the ARMM. Now they say that (BOL) it is also federalism na i-isang region ang gagawin sa BOL, but it is not, it is an isolation, because it will only be constituted by five provinces that are laggards, so it is only through federalism that you can mix the laggards with the affluent, otherwise, these laggards will never progress.”
“Kaya para mas mapadali ang federalism, dapat mag-declare na tayo ng revolutionary government to make things easier. So anong nangyari, sandali lang ay nagawa na yun Constitution natin. So the President can now appoint members of the commission that will draft the new Constitution and then come up with the new government and then come up with the form of government that we will have. Instead of a unitary form of government then we can have a parliamentary-federal system of government,” the elder Tan said, adding, “It is far better than creating a monster like the BOL.”
Duterte has repeatedly vowed to push for a change in form of government – from presidential system to federal – and even threatened to make Mindanao a federal region if lawmakers fail to amend the Constitution to pave the way for new federal government.
He said the current unitary system has spelled so much trouble. When he was mayor in Davao City in southern Philippines, Duterte had been strongly campaigning for the establishment of a federal form of government and in many of his public appearances and speeches the President said federalism is the next best thing for the country.
Duterte also vowed to step down – even before his term ends on 2022 – as soon as the new federal government is fully functional. “Do not be afraid of a dictatorship because I will not be the one,” Duterte said.
He also cited the precedent set by Corazon Aquino, who established a revolutionary government soon after leading an uprising in 1986 that ended the Marcos dictatorship. Aquino sacked all elected officials, abolished Congress and tore up the 1973 Constitution in favor of a provisional charter. She handpicked a commission to write a new Constitution, which was ratified by plebiscite in 1987.
But Duterte’s rhetoric statement is also a double-edged sword. While he campaigns hard for the establishment of a federal government, Duterte is also urging Muslims to ratify the BOL. And the MILF insists that BOL should come first before any change in the form of government even while its leaders headed by Murad Ebrahim and their army of mujahedeen do not recognize the Philippine Constitution and had no experience in public governance.
During his visit to Cotabato City on January 18, Duterte told thousands of pro-MILF supporters: “Your approval of this law will not only serve as an expression of your desire to end more than half a century of armed struggle in the region. It will also serve testament of your determination to bring genuine peace and development in Muslim Mindanao to an autonomous government that truly represents and understands the needs of the people. Mga mahal kong Moro brothers and sisters, Magboto kayo ng Yes.”
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, a strong advocate of BOL, also urged his constituents to support the BOL and participate in the plebiscite because it is the answer to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro.
“Ang yes (vote) sa BOL ay yes sa ating mga pangarap. Kung may BOL, mas malaya ang pamahalaang Bangsamoro na magdesisyon para sa sarili. Bukod pa rito, ang BOL ang pinaka-sagisag ng tagumpay ng prosesong pangkapayapaan. Kung mara-ratify ito, magiging malinaw ang mensahe sa lahat, tapos na ang gulo. Kung may BOL, mas malaya ang pamahalaang Bangsamoro na mag-desisyon para sa sarili. Mababawasan na ang paulit-ulit at mahabang pasahan ng pakiusap at pagmamakaawa sa pagitan natin at ng Maynila. Mas mapapabilis ang pagbaba ng serbisyo ng gobyerno,” he said.
“Ang BOL ang pinaka-sagisag ng tagumpay ng prosesong pangkapayapaan. Kung mararatify ito, magiging malinaw ang mensahe sa lahat - tapos na ang gulo. Bagama’t kailangan pa rin bantayan at kailangan pa ring ingatan, masasabi nating narito na ang kapayapaan,” he added.
In Cotabato, Mayor Cynthia Sayadi, who is fighting the city’s inclusion to the proposed Bangsamoro region, said she received many reports that pro-BOL campaigners were harassing residents into voting for the ratification of the organic law.
“I received harassment complaints from my people by Bangsamoro plebiscite campaigners. Number one is the abuses, abuses from the people who wanted the BOL to win in the city…all of those who are supporting the inclusion of (Cotabato to Bangsamoro autonomous region), the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” the mayor said.
“The city will reject BOL and that is based on the consultations with the people, consultations with the different sectors and not just my voice, it is the voice of everyone that I consulted,” she added.
Cotabato is where the seat of the ARMM government is located even though the city is not part of the Muslim autonomous region. And there were reports that Ebrahim and other rebel leaders - who took advantage of the peace process - have allegedly invested heavily in various businesses in Cotabato and that is why they wanted the city to be part of the expanded autonomous region.
The same sentiments are also felt among residents in Isabela where Vice Mayor Cherryln Akbar is also leading in the campaign against the city’s inclusion to the Bangsamoro autonomous region. She said the BOL will only benefit the MILF and its interest in the region.
“Look at actor Robin Padilla who came here to campaign for the BOL. Why, is Robin Padilla from Isabela City, does he know the predicaments of the people here?” she said during a speech at a huge rally January 18 attended by thousands of people.
She also took a swipe on lawmakers who approved the BOL and now insisting us to be a part of the new autonomous region. “If our children are sick, if we do not have rice on the table, did any of them congressman come here to help us?” the mayor added.
All the ARMM governors, except Tan, are all campaigning for BOL – Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao; Jim Saliman of Basilan; Soraya Adiong of Lanao del Sur; Rashidin Matba of Tawi-Tawi and the four politicians were all strong supporters of President Benigno Aquino and defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas. (Mindanao Examiner)
The MILF, which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014, is expected to rule the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region should Muslims voted in favor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL (Republic Act 11054) which shall replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM.
Anti-BOL advocates in Isabela City in Basilan province. (Photos courtesy of Akbar Mutamad Jann)ARMM is composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces. A second referendum has been set on February 6 with several towns in North Cotabato with some 286,867 voters and 352,494 voters in Lanao del Norte, are included in the proposed Bangsamoro region. For January 21 plebiscite , the total voters in ARMM is 1,980,441 and 71,124 in Isabela City and 113,751 in Cotabato City, according to the Commission on Elections.
Majority of Sulu’s over 830,000 Tausug population led by their political leaders Governor Toto Tan and his father, Dr. Sakur Tan wanted out of the autonomous region and wanted to be part again of Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9.
Sulu along with Basilan and Tawi-Tawi were all originally part of Region 9 following the signing of the 1986 peace agreement between the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari and the Ramos administration. After the accord, a referendum was held following the 1989 signing by President Corazon Aquino of the Republic Act 6734, and amended in 2001 which paved the way for another plebiscite which included Basilan and Marawi City.
Nur Misuari and MNLF
After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace deal, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
In 2001, Misuari’s loyal forces and former rebels who joined the Philippine Army following the September 1996 peace accord, attacked a key military base in Jolo town and civilian targets in Zamboanga City in an effort to stop the government from calling an election in the ARMM.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines and was eventually pardoned and released by then President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004. He also ran thrice for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably.
Now, when Duterte became president, he ordered police and military not to arrest Misuari - his political ally – saying he would talk peace with the MNLF, and even invited the former Libyan firebrand in the Presidential Palace to talk on the podium about peace.
Revolutionary Government
An oral argument on the controversial law has been scheduled next month, according to reports. The Tan patriarch has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on his threat to establish a “revolutionary government,” so he could quickly reconfigure the country’s regions and shift to a federal form of government.
“Only through federalism you can configure the territories that will constitute the federal states and not cluster only the laggards together like the five provinces in the ARMM. Now they say that (BOL) it is also federalism na i-isang region ang gagawin sa BOL, but it is not, it is an isolation, because it will only be constituted by five provinces that are laggards, so it is only through federalism that you can mix the laggards with the affluent, otherwise, these laggards will never progress.”
“Kaya para mas mapadali ang federalism, dapat mag-declare na tayo ng revolutionary government to make things easier. So anong nangyari, sandali lang ay nagawa na yun Constitution natin. So the President can now appoint members of the commission that will draft the new Constitution and then come up with the new government and then come up with the form of government that we will have. Instead of a unitary form of government then we can have a parliamentary-federal system of government,” the elder Tan said, adding, “It is far better than creating a monster like the BOL.”
Federal Government
He said the current unitary system has spelled so much trouble. When he was mayor in Davao City in southern Philippines, Duterte had been strongly campaigning for the establishment of a federal form of government and in many of his public appearances and speeches the President said federalism is the next best thing for the country.
Duterte also vowed to step down – even before his term ends on 2022 – as soon as the new federal government is fully functional. “Do not be afraid of a dictatorship because I will not be the one,” Duterte said.
He also cited the precedent set by Corazon Aquino, who established a revolutionary government soon after leading an uprising in 1986 that ended the Marcos dictatorship. Aquino sacked all elected officials, abolished Congress and tore up the 1973 Constitution in favor of a provisional charter. She handpicked a commission to write a new Constitution, which was ratified by plebiscite in 1987.
Double-edged Sword
During his visit to Cotabato City on January 18, Duterte told thousands of pro-MILF supporters: “Your approval of this law will not only serve as an expression of your desire to end more than half a century of armed struggle in the region. It will also serve testament of your determination to bring genuine peace and development in Muslim Mindanao to an autonomous government that truly represents and understands the needs of the people. Mga mahal kong Moro brothers and sisters, Magboto kayo ng Yes.”
ARMM
“Ang yes (vote) sa BOL ay yes sa ating mga pangarap. Kung may BOL, mas malaya ang pamahalaang Bangsamoro na magdesisyon para sa sarili. Bukod pa rito, ang BOL ang pinaka-sagisag ng tagumpay ng prosesong pangkapayapaan. Kung mara-ratify ito, magiging malinaw ang mensahe sa lahat, tapos na ang gulo. Kung may BOL, mas malaya ang pamahalaang Bangsamoro na mag-desisyon para sa sarili. Mababawasan na ang paulit-ulit at mahabang pasahan ng pakiusap at pagmamakaawa sa pagitan natin at ng Maynila. Mas mapapabilis ang pagbaba ng serbisyo ng gobyerno,” he said.
“Ang BOL ang pinaka-sagisag ng tagumpay ng prosesong pangkapayapaan. Kung mararatify ito, magiging malinaw ang mensahe sa lahat - tapos na ang gulo. Bagama’t kailangan pa rin bantayan at kailangan pa ring ingatan, masasabi nating narito na ang kapayapaan,” he added.
Cotabato City
“I received harassment complaints from my people by Bangsamoro plebiscite campaigners. Number one is the abuses, abuses from the people who wanted the BOL to win in the city…all of those who are supporting the inclusion of (Cotabato to Bangsamoro autonomous region), the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” the mayor said.
“The city will reject BOL and that is based on the consultations with the people, consultations with the different sectors and not just my voice, it is the voice of everyone that I consulted,” she added.
Cotabato is where the seat of the ARMM government is located even though the city is not part of the Muslim autonomous region. And there were reports that Ebrahim and other rebel leaders - who took advantage of the peace process - have allegedly invested heavily in various businesses in Cotabato and that is why they wanted the city to be part of the expanded autonomous region.
Isabela City
“Look at actor Robin Padilla who came here to campaign for the BOL. Why, is Robin Padilla from Isabela City, does he know the predicaments of the people here?” she said during a speech at a huge rally January 18 attended by thousands of people.
She also took a swipe on lawmakers who approved the BOL and now insisting us to be a part of the new autonomous region. “If our children are sick, if we do not have rice on the table, did any of them congressman come here to help us?” the mayor added.
All the ARMM governors, except Tan, are all campaigning for BOL – Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao; Jim Saliman of Basilan; Soraya Adiong of Lanao del Sur; Rashidin Matba of Tawi-Tawi and the four politicians were all strong supporters of President Benigno Aquino and defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas. (Mindanao Examiner)
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read And Share Our News: https://www.mindanaoexaminer.com
Mirror Site: https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com
Digital Archives: https://issuu.com/mindanaoexaminernewspaper
See Media Rates: https://mindanaoexaminer.com/ad-rates
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
ARMM guv delivers final address
COTABATO CITY - Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Muslim autonomous region - in his final State of the Region Address - has thanked Wednesday former President Benigno Aquino for giving him the opportunity the opportunity to serve Bangsamoro.
Hataman said it was Aquino who chose him to lead the troubled region in 2012 and after nearly 7 years, he introduced reform and guided it to become one of the most progressive areas in the country in terms of investments. "I shall be forever grateful to you," he said in his speech in front of a huge crowd outside his office.
Hataman, who emotional throughout his speech, had to pause several times to wipe his tears and drank water to clear his throat. His voice cracked many times as he tried to recompose himself and continue his speech.
 |
| Gov. Mujiv Hataman during his State of the Region Address on Wednesday at the compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City. (Mindanao Examiner) |
At the end of the speech, Hataman humbly asked for forgiveness to all those who did not like how he ran the regional government. And added all the achievements of the regional government is for the welfare of the Bangsamoro.
Hataman appealed to the next leaders of the Bangsamoro region to continue what has been done for the benefit of the people and as reminder and memories of those who work hard for it.
He also mentioned President Rodrigo Duterte and thanked him for supporting the proposed establishment of the Bangsamo autonomous region that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM.
 |
| A man distributes stickers and fans with photos of senatorial candidate Dong Mangudadatu during the State of the Region Address Wednesday by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman. (Mindanao Examiner) |
ARMM is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. Residents there are set to ratify next month the Bangsamoro Organic Law which was passed by Congress and approved by Duterte.
While Hataman was speaking, a man started distributing sticker and fans with photos of senatorial candidate Dong Mangudadatu, who was also at the event together with his brothers Toto Mangudadatu, who is the governor of Maguindanao; and regional gubernatorial bet Jong Mangudadatu. (Mindanao Examiner)
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read And Share Our News: https://www.mindanaoexaminer.com
Mirror Site: https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com
Digital Archives: https://issuu.com/mindanaoexaminernewspaper
See Media Rates: https://mindanaoexaminer.com/ad-rates
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
OPINION: Welcome Pres. Xi Jinping! By Jun Ledesma
WHAT MAKES THE Philippines-China relations so distinct from the other countries that China had engaged with? Is it on account of its strategic navigational route that can spell the difference between victory and defeat in commerce and trade and armed conflict or it is simply on account of a special avuncular regard of the China leadership for the Philippines?
I found some answers in a free-wheeling discussion with Bai Tian, then deputy director-general at the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China and in charge of Asean affairs. He had previously served as a trade and economic counselor in Manila. A group of Manila-based journalists I had the privilege to tag along with, visited his office in Beijing in September of 2015. The term of Pres. Benigno Aquino III was coming to an end and by the tone of his discourse I sensed that early on they have given up on the Aquino administration for any bit of bilateral talks relative to the conflicting claims of islands in the West Philippine sea or South China sea. The Aquino government had brought the conflict to the Arbitration Court in the Hague thus creating a deeper fission between China and the Philippines.
I distinctly recalled Director Tian mentioning names of Presidential bets in the Philippines election of 2016. While Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was still nowhere in the scenario he was making headway in surveys, Tian inquired who Duterte was. Since all eyes turned to me, I pitched-in my two-cents worth guessing and then articulating without the permission from Duterte that he is one person who could be open to bilateral talks. And I said more. When we left Director Tian’s office, Melo Acuna, a pillar in the Foreign Correspondents of the Philippines and correspondent of China Radio International, asked me if he could interview me. I was intimidated but I agreed. Later, he kidded me that my off-the-cuff testimonial for Duterte was like a voice in the wilderness.
Back to Director Tian. He was a bit emotional when he talked about the Philippines. He said that he stayed for a long time in the country and described how he relished his stay. He lamented why the Aquino mouthpieces created scenarios like China is a bully out to make war against the Philippines over the disputed islands. “You do not burn the house of your next door neighbor”, he intoned.
Indeed it is foolhardy for China to create conflict in the sea that unites the two countries. That is the only navigational route for China’s trade and is extremely important to sustain and strengthen its position as the 2nd biggest economy in the world. It is the first marine mile of its One Belt One Road centerpiece program, a main route that extends to ASEAN nations and countries in the Pacific and all the way to Africa and the Middle East. Pres. Xi Jinping has adequately prepared for this economic and diplomatic thrusts. China established the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank and aside from this a couple of trillion dollars from the government’s coffers to back it up.
The West is not comfortable with this. Each time China’s OBOR anchors in a distant country it brings with it cheap loan package to finance infrastructure program, the Western press warned and dubbed this a potential “debt trap”. They have conveniently stonewalled the expensive loans that the West extends to countries it purports to help.
The Philippines though have yet to see the color of China’s much ballyhooed bundles of funds to finance the country’s Build, Build, Build program. Both the United States and China woo the Philippines for its vital location. The US however had always treated the Philippines like a mendicant that can be satisfied with a morsel. In the last WWII Filipinos fought with Americans against its war with Japan. That war left our country the 2nd most devastated in the aftermath of world war II. The US rebuilt Japan first and then led the Marshall Plan that restored France and other European allies. What the Philippines got were bits and pieces of ‘reparations’. When it launched its offensive against North Vietnam it made Subic Naval Base and Clark Field its launching pad. Where were we after that? We queue to get our visa and Pres. Barack Obama had the gall to tell President Duterte to be careful about the human rights issues in the country. Of course he got a mouthful and was silenced forever.
Pres. Xi Jinping’s visit to the Philippines is a welcome event. I believe that he is here to demonstrate not only to the Filipinos but to the critics of China that he is a harbinger of peace, goodwill and development. I want to believe that China’s Supreme Leader is here to personally deliver a loan package for the 70 big ticket projects of the Duterte government valued at $35-billion. If this happens this event will mark the golden era of Philippines-China relations.
I do not know whether President Xi will be interested to see the bedroom of Duterte and the ever-present kolambo. Then maybe in his native art of diplomacy the President can tell Xi to open China’s market for more bananas and tuna from Davao. Wishful thinking for one who dwells in the boondocks of Mindanao? Libre ang mangarap. And this Mindanaowon also hopes that in this historic encounter between two leaders they would decide to convert those installations in disputed Scarborough shoal into one big marine laboratory manned by Filipino and Chinese scientists and then declare its perimeter a no fishing zone. This way the marine resource will be preserved, fishes can propagate for future generations.
Welcome Pres. Xi Jinping! (Jun Ledesma)
I found some answers in a free-wheeling discussion with Bai Tian, then deputy director-general at the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China and in charge of Asean affairs. He had previously served as a trade and economic counselor in Manila. A group of Manila-based journalists I had the privilege to tag along with, visited his office in Beijing in September of 2015. The term of Pres. Benigno Aquino III was coming to an end and by the tone of his discourse I sensed that early on they have given up on the Aquino administration for any bit of bilateral talks relative to the conflicting claims of islands in the West Philippine sea or South China sea. The Aquino government had brought the conflict to the Arbitration Court in the Hague thus creating a deeper fission between China and the Philippines.
I distinctly recalled Director Tian mentioning names of Presidential bets in the Philippines election of 2016. While Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was still nowhere in the scenario he was making headway in surveys, Tian inquired who Duterte was. Since all eyes turned to me, I pitched-in my two-cents worth guessing and then articulating without the permission from Duterte that he is one person who could be open to bilateral talks. And I said more. When we left Director Tian’s office, Melo Acuna, a pillar in the Foreign Correspondents of the Philippines and correspondent of China Radio International, asked me if he could interview me. I was intimidated but I agreed. Later, he kidded me that my off-the-cuff testimonial for Duterte was like a voice in the wilderness.
Back to Director Tian. He was a bit emotional when he talked about the Philippines. He said that he stayed for a long time in the country and described how he relished his stay. He lamented why the Aquino mouthpieces created scenarios like China is a bully out to make war against the Philippines over the disputed islands. “You do not burn the house of your next door neighbor”, he intoned.
Indeed it is foolhardy for China to create conflict in the sea that unites the two countries. That is the only navigational route for China’s trade and is extremely important to sustain and strengthen its position as the 2nd biggest economy in the world. It is the first marine mile of its One Belt One Road centerpiece program, a main route that extends to ASEAN nations and countries in the Pacific and all the way to Africa and the Middle East. Pres. Xi Jinping has adequately prepared for this economic and diplomatic thrusts. China established the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank and aside from this a couple of trillion dollars from the government’s coffers to back it up.
The West is not comfortable with this. Each time China’s OBOR anchors in a distant country it brings with it cheap loan package to finance infrastructure program, the Western press warned and dubbed this a potential “debt trap”. They have conveniently stonewalled the expensive loans that the West extends to countries it purports to help.
The Philippines though have yet to see the color of China’s much ballyhooed bundles of funds to finance the country’s Build, Build, Build program. Both the United States and China woo the Philippines for its vital location. The US however had always treated the Philippines like a mendicant that can be satisfied with a morsel. In the last WWII Filipinos fought with Americans against its war with Japan. That war left our country the 2nd most devastated in the aftermath of world war II. The US rebuilt Japan first and then led the Marshall Plan that restored France and other European allies. What the Philippines got were bits and pieces of ‘reparations’. When it launched its offensive against North Vietnam it made Subic Naval Base and Clark Field its launching pad. Where were we after that? We queue to get our visa and Pres. Barack Obama had the gall to tell President Duterte to be careful about the human rights issues in the country. Of course he got a mouthful and was silenced forever.
Pres. Xi Jinping’s visit to the Philippines is a welcome event. I believe that he is here to demonstrate not only to the Filipinos but to the critics of China that he is a harbinger of peace, goodwill and development. I want to believe that China’s Supreme Leader is here to personally deliver a loan package for the 70 big ticket projects of the Duterte government valued at $35-billion. If this happens this event will mark the golden era of Philippines-China relations.
I do not know whether President Xi will be interested to see the bedroom of Duterte and the ever-present kolambo. Then maybe in his native art of diplomacy the President can tell Xi to open China’s market for more bananas and tuna from Davao. Wishful thinking for one who dwells in the boondocks of Mindanao? Libre ang mangarap. And this Mindanaowon also hopes that in this historic encounter between two leaders they would decide to convert those installations in disputed Scarborough shoal into one big marine laboratory manned by Filipino and Chinese scientists and then declare its perimeter a no fishing zone. This way the marine resource will be preserved, fishes can propagate for future generations.
Welcome Pres. Xi Jinping! (Jun Ledesma)
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read And Share Our News: https://www.mindanaoexaminer.com
Mirror Site: https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com
Digital Archives: https://issuu.com/mindanaoexaminernewspaper
See Media Rates: https://mindanaoexaminer.com/ad-rates
Monday, October 8, 2018
Troops clash with militants in BIFF-MILF stronghold
COTABATO CITY – Army soldiers clashed with pro-ISIS militants in southern Philippines, but there were no reports of casualties on both sides.
The fighting broke out in Tukanalipao village in Maguindanao’s Mamasapano town, a known stronghold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
Officials said troops from the 40th Infantry Battalion were on a combat clearing operation when they ran into a group of BIFF members and a firefight ensued. The weekend clash lasted about 15 minutes with troops recovering four rifles.
There was no immediate statement from the BIFF which was also blamed by authorities along with the MILF for the cold-blooded killing of 44 police commandos in Tukanalipao village on January 25, 2015.
The commandos, members of the Special Action Force, were on a clandestine mission deep inside MILF territory to capture Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, who was eventually killed in the operation.
Police commandos were on their way to re-join their more than 300 SAF members after killing Zulkifli and cutting off his finger for DNA analysis when MILF forces, aided by BIFF militants, attacked them and sparking daylong clashes.
At least 18 MILF and five BIFF were killed in the fierce fighting that the Aquino government claimed was a mis-encounter. Barely a month later, the MILF which signed an interim peace deal with Manila, surrendered at least 16 weapons it took from slain police commandos. The surrender of the weapons further bolstered accusations by lawmakers and human rights groups that MILF rebels had finished off wounded Special Action Force commandos and collected their guns, among others, in the village of Tukanalipao.
The weapons were handed over to the police, but SAF sources claimed the guns had been tampered and that many of its parts were either taken out or replaced with defective mechanism.
Because of the killings, lawmakers shelved the Bangasamoro Basic Law (BBL) until investigations into the deadly clashes between SAF and MILF is completed. The BBL was eventually passed in the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, but families of the slain commandos were still crying out for justice. The MILF said it will not surrender those involved in the slayings. (Mindanao Examiner)
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read And Share Our News: https://www.mindanaoexaminer.com
Digital Archives: https://issuu.com/mindanaoexaminernewspaper
See Media Rates: https://mindanaoexaminer.com/ad-rates
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
