World religionists hold dialogue with MILF

The World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP)-Asian chapter met leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Central Mindanao on Sunday, and asked the Moro rebels on what conditions which will lead to resumption of peace talks.

Reports here said that world religionists have held a dialogue with leaders of the MILF led by Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and his chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan that began at around 3:30 p.m. up to almost nightfall.

The WCRP delegation of seventeen or more so was led by Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Asst. Secretary General, Religions for Peace based in New York, USA; Rev. Tea Sung Kim, Asst. Secretary General, Religions for Peace Asia/ACRP in South Korea.

Two other Asian foreign visitors were identified as Rev. Koichi Matsumoto, Special Advisor to the Secretary General for Youth Affairs, and Yoshinori Shinohara, member of the Asian Inter-religious Youth Network.

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, convenor of the Bishop-Ulama Conference, Bishop Hilario Gomez Jr. from the Protestant Church and Dr. Hammid Barra from Ulama Council of the Philippines led the Filipino delegation.

In the meeting, the WCRP had taken up with the MILF about the Asian Summit of Religious Youth Leaders in Mindanao on Oct. 2008 and possibilities of how they can help in the peace process and the conflict transformation, peace-building and sustainable development.

According to reports, Murad told WCRP visitors that technically the talks is on track but it is the government that is causing the delay by assembling another group of lawyers who will study the draft of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain.

The MILF chairman also told them that the conflict in Mindanao is not religious in essence but political that requires a political solution, which the parties to the talks have not yet started after more than a decade of talks.

Lawyer Michael Mastura, a member of the MILF peace panel, backed Murad's statement, citing among things, the burning of mosques, copies of the Qur'an, and madrasahs by soldiers that introduced the religious spectrum into the conflict.

Dr. Estrella Babano, directress of Department of Education (DepEd) Region 10, informed the group that she, in cooperation with Churchmen and political leaders in Lanao del Norte, is offering to host the youth conference this year in Tubod town.

Archbishop Capalla, once victim of a deadly bomb explosion few years ago in Davao City, told the group that he thinks that there are groups who do not want the problem in Mindanao solved.

WCRP is an affiliate of the United Nation (UN) and an umbrella organization where all world religious are represented, especially Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, Buddhism, Zoroastrian, Jain, Hinduism, Shintoism, Sikh and many others from over 16 countries Asia and the Pacific.

It had taken active role in the resolution of world conflict situations from Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and many more. Its first act of concern for the conflict in Mindanao started as early as 1977 during Martial Law when the group made a detailed report and circulated globally.

Among the more prominent Muslim personalities involved in the WCRP are Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Shariff of Libya, Dr. Omar Naseef, former Secretary General of the World Muslim League in Mecca, Saudi Arabia; Prince Rashid Bin El Hassan of Jordan, chairman of Jordanian Hashemoite Charity, and Ayatollah Seyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad of Iran.

In its official website, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the late Pope John Paul II had expressed support to the WCRP, believing that the conference could help in the promotion of dialog thereby creating bonds of friendship among peoples.

The conference has been involved in reconciling communities divided by conflicts and wars in recent years. It was first convened in Kyoto in 1970. It hopes that world religionists join the conference to share their goals and contribute to world peace.

In 1994, the WCRP established six commissions in the areas of conflict transformation and reconciliation; human rights and responsibilities; the child and the family; development and ecology; disarmament and security; and peace education.

SWS survey shows Muslims in Mindanao want Islamic government for ARMM

A latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on the Muslim population in at least four cities and nine provinces in Mindanao showed the majority of Muslims do want an Islamic government for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The SWS survey revealed that of the 700 Muslim respondents from the autonomous region and 600 from the non-ARMM areas who were asked in random if they think the region should have an Islamic government, 79 percent agreed.

The Muslims polled were also asked about if they are satisfied with the way democracy works in the Philippines. According to the result, "71 percent of the respondents say they are contented. Three out of 5 also agree that they can say anything they want even if it is against the government."

About 64 percent of the respondents perceive that "Islamic Government" is a government that respects the values and morals of Islam, while 35 percent believe it is a government run by Islamic leaders, and 83 percent think that Ulamas (Muslim religious leaders) will become more influential in the next ARMM elections.

The survey, sponsored by The Asia Foundation, was conducted from February 1 to 7, 2008 in the cities of Zamboanga, Cotabato, Isabela, Marawi, and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, North Coatabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Lanao del Norte. It was aimed to determine the Muslim Mindanao attitudes towards democracy and elections.

Mohammad Muntassir, chairperson of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Da'wah committee in charge of Islamic teachings and propagation, commented on this development, saying that the result of the survey showed how desperate the Muslims are on the prevailing governance in their localities in particular.

Citing the lack of transparency and accountability in the way governmental functions are conducted in this country, Muntassir said these contributed directly to the frustration of the population. "Accountability should not only be to people but to the Almighty Who reward the good and punishes the evil-doer in the day hereafter."

He claimed, "In Moro areas, many of those who run the government are belonging to traditional elites who, with some exceptions, consider government properties as theirs and the people their chattel. There is no real democracy at work but what they say is the law and must be followed. Worse, the government in power does not try to correct this, because in times of elections these leaders deliver votes."

However, Prof. Shariff M. Julabbi, chairman of the MILF/Bangsamoro Mujahidden Alliance and senior official of the Ulama-Bishop Council of the Philippines, welcomed this development, saying "this indicates that more and more Muslims in the largely Catholic Philippine country are aspiring for Islamic government to run their homeland."

Julabbi believes that Muslims in the ARMM will succeed if they have a true Islamic government and followed it properly. Citing Muslims who have prospered in the past because they had pure Islamic systems, he says there's no doubt in his mind that Moro people can still prosper if they apply and follow true Islamic laws and system of government.

"Islamic government is really best for ARMM, but I feel that continuing this present government in the autonomous region will not work it will only divide further the Moros as we see in the present, where constant internal battles and conflicts among them within their communities."

"If you take the example of Saudi Arabia, which has an Islamic government, there it appears to be working. Why? Simply because it applies and follows the true Islamic laws and system of government and its people follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah (Prophet Muhammad's sayings, peace be upon him)."

Julabbi said that Islam is a unique way of life and it has its own political system, where people can participate in the decision-making of their government and the rights and privileges of non- Muslims are well protected, respected and taken care of. Most of all everyone is treated equally. "So can we have an Islamic government for ARMM?" he asked.

Muslims make up nearly 8 percent of the total populace in the country. The mineral-rich Mindanao, Islam's birthplace in the Philippines, is home to an estimated population of 8 to 9 million-Muslims. Islam reached the Philippines in the 13th century, about 200 years before Christianity.

Currently Mindanao has a Christian-majority population while, the ARMM, has a population that is evenly split between Muslims and Christians. The ARMM covers about 40 percent of the southern Philippines and is a region with special autonomy, administrated by a Muslim authority.

OIC calls on MNLF, MILF to unite efforts for Bangsamoro people

The influential Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has urged both the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)) to put their acts together for the good and welfare of the Muslims in Southern Philippines.

In a resolution passed during the 11th summit in Senegal's capital, Dakar from March 13-14, 2008, the OIC has called for the MNLF and MILF to combine their efforts to work together for peace and development of the Bangsamoro people.

“This is the 14th of the 16-item resolutions of this year summit that dealt with the ‘Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines’, specifically on the issue of unity,” says a report posted on the Luwaran.com, the MILF’s official website.

Based on reports from Middle East press, at least 33 heads of state, and nearly 5,500 delegates from 57 member countries and international organizations representing more than 1.3 billion Muslims all over the world, have attended the summit.

They highlighted the summit's significance and hope it will strengthen Muslim unity. The OIC summit also took notes of the ongoing peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF, which it “hopes to arrive at positive outcomes.”

It was learned from Luwaran.com, the MILF sent a three-man delegation, composed of a member of the Front Central Committee, a provincial chairman from Southern Sulu, and a member of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

Three factions of the MNLF sent a larger group, composed of ARMM Assemblyman Hatimil Hassan, Mayor Isnaji Alvarez, former Muslim Affairs chief Habib Mujahab, a nephew of Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Sharif Zain Jali, spiritual adviser of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari.

“This is the second summit conference of the OIC in Senegal that the MILF sent representatives. The first was on December 9-12, 1990. The MILF sent Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of its information committee, and Sheikh Abdulfatah Delna,” the source said.

It will be recalled that in January this year, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim visited the headquarters of the OIC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and briefed the OIC Secretary General of the progress of the GRP-MILF Peace Talks.

He told the OIC officials that the MILF, in its talks with the government, does not intend to set aside what the MNLF and the Bangsamoro people have achieved, but to complement the GRP-MNLF Final Agreement of September 2, 1996.

“We are willing to fuse the best of the FPA and what we sign with the government,” he also told the OIC officials.

The MILF, which claimed to have two million members, split away from the MNLF in the late 1970, but the former continued to wage war to reclaim the Bangsamoro homeland in Mindanao, the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines.

The peace negotiation with the government has been suspended since December 15, 2007 when the MILF’s panel pulled out of the negotiating table in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to protest the alleged unauthorized insertion made by government negotiators in the draft agreement on territory.

The MILF has been demanding the inclusion of about 1,000 villages in the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) without precondition but the government rejected it, stressing the establishment of any entity should only be considered within the ambit of the Constitution.

On the other hand, the MNLF which has been holding an observer status in the pan-Islamic body for three decades now, remains discontented with the implementation of the peace pact citing the government's unfulfilled promises and failure to address the issue on land.

Muslims in Mindanao divided over Congress' proposal for new Muslim commission

While some Muslims in Western Mindanao welcome the proposed creation of National Commission for Muslims, others are not, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which branded it as an antidote to the realization of genuine self-governance for the Bangsamoro people.

Muslim leaders and scholars in Zamboanga Peninsula, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, who attended the hearing jointly conducted by the House of Representatives’ Committees on Government Reorganization and Muslim Affairs at the Western Mindanao State University last week, generally expressed support to the bill.

They welcomed the proposal because this would be of great help to the Muslim populace in the country, especially in terms of settling the different issues the Muslims are facing, and giving full representation of all the Muslim ethnic tribes as well as sectors in the country, “thus ensuring equal services for all.”

But Khaled Musa, MILF information deputy chairman, said that while he has all the respects for the proponents of the bill, the bill will only serve as the vehicle for further integrating the Moro into the national body politics, and that the creation of offices is not guarantee that the rights and interests of the Bangsamoro people are guaranteed, protected, and promoted.

Proponents of the new bill said the office will have seven commissioners — five commissioners representing different Muslim tribes in the country, and two commissioners from Muslim women and Ulama (religious leaders and scholars).

The bill is a consolidation of house bills numbers 823, 2347, and 2379 that would establish an agency and abolish OMA. The proposed commission for Muslims will be under the Office of the President. It also spells out the different services of the proposed commission such as administrative, finance and management, planning, and legal.

The commission will have its Hajj Attache and Amirul Hajj, who will help Filipino Muslim pilgrims. It will also have seven commissioners; five representing different Muslim tribes in the country. It will also have its different bureaus, particularly focusing on economic affairs, Muslim cultural affairs, Muslim settlement, and pilgrimage and endowment. The committees are also adopting the inclusion of Bureau on Halal Certification. (HG)

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Salapuddin: "There is no warrant for my arrest"

Former House deputy speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin has declared that no arrest warrant had been issued against him and described the news about the order of a court to apprehend him as "part of demolition job of his political rivals."

Some national mediamen on Wednesday reported that a Quezon City judge ordered Salapuddin's arrest and three other people for the bombing at the Batasan Pambansa on November 13, 2007 that killed five people, including Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar.

The report said that Judge Ralph Lee of the Regional Trial Court Branch 83 ordered Salapuddin, Hajarun Jamiri, Benjamin Hataman, and PO1 Bayan Judda arrested after they failed to attend Wednesday's arraignment on the case.

Prosecutors had added the four as suspects to the charge sheet, but they ignored the summonses sent to them, according to the media report.

"The news about the alleged release of MTC Branch 83 warrant for my arrest is not true…there is no warrant for my arrest…the truth of the matter, Judge Lee hasn't issued any order to that effect," Salapuddin said in a statement."

The former Basilan congressman deplored the information spread by certain "irresponsible" mediamen without validating the facts of the case and called on them to practice responsible journalism, saying never to allow themselves to be instrument of disinformation.

"While they have press freedom as their shield coupled with the right of the public to know, however, they must not forget that it is not a right to wrong others. They must not use the bar of public opinion to persecute anyone."

"I call for balance and fair reporting. I firmly believe, the reason why my political opponents are moving heaven and earth to pin me down has something to do with my election protest at the Comelec."

On Monday, Salapuddin counsels filed an Omnibus Motion before the Sala of Judge Lee to counter the filing of the alleged defective information by the Prosecution Panel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) last Thursday, February 28.

The motion sought for the judicial determination of the probable cause of the case. It asks as well for the dismissal of the case because the information filed before the court is defective and has many loopholes.

It also beseeched the court not to issue any warrant of arrest against Salapuddin and three others co-suspects PO1 Judda, former Tuburan Mayor Jamiri and Ben Hataman pending the judicial determination of the probable cause of the case.

The DOJ as part of the executive branch of government has executive power to determine the probable cause of any case submitted to it. But the court has also it judicial power to determine the probable cause of the case.

According to Salapuddin, surprisingly, the two brothers Anak Mindanao Party List Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Hadjiman Salliman were exonerated by the Prosecution Panel of the DOJ at the last minute presumably due to political pressure.

Also last Wednesday, Akbar counsels filed a motion before the sala of Judge Lee for the issuance of arrest warrant against four main accused in the Batasan Pambansa blast. They also questioned the hasty exoneration of the Hataman Brothers.

"This is the issue being blown out of proportion by the media. They thought that the mere filing is automatically the decision of the court. In fact, the honorable court was displeased because they must have felt that they were being preempted," Salapuddin explained.

"However, Judge Lee has ruled to hear the matter concerning the motions of all sides concerned on March 14, 2008. That's why, there is no warrant of arrest to speak about," he stressed.

It was learned that Salapuddin counsels would be filing before the justice secretary a petition for review of the case. This is why, he said the court set the hearing on March 14 to allow the justice secretary to rule on it, wherein whatever its ruling would affect the court's decision.

Salapuddin lost to Jum Akbar, the wife of the late Rep. Akbar, by a slim margin of more than 3,000 votes in 11 barangays in the last elections but he protested. He believes that he won that election and was allegedly cheated of his victory.

Hopefully, the former Basilan lawmaker said that as soon as his lead counsel in the protest against Akbar, Attorney George Erwin Garcia will be over with the ongoing recount of Batangas vice gubernatorial contest, his protest can start rolling.

"I am protesting because I want to restore the sovereign rights of our people to freely choose their leaders. I also want to bring back decency and good governance to the people of Basilan because they deserve no less," he concluded.

MILF accuses WesMinCom of backtracking findings on Sulu massacre

Moro rebels fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao accused the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) of back-tracking its findings on the February 4 massacre of eight Muslims including a pregnant woman and two children in Maimbung, Sulu.

“Finding itself isolated for clearly easily absolving soldiers involved in the Maimbung massacre, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had backtracked that it is not yet done with their investigation on the massacre…” according to a report from Luwaran.com.

But Lieutenant General Nelson Allaga, the AFP WesMinCom commander, refuted the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF’s) claim saying that the findings only covered the initial investigation and that the military had never cleared those involved.

The WesMinCom commanding general said that what they issued were initial findings of the WesMinCom’s Inspector General that the operation was legitimate.

“However, this pronouncement is a complete retraction of what was previously announced. On February 27 the same Army officer cleared the government troops of any accountability on the deaths of the civilians,” an MILF source said.

The military findings, it said, showed that the houses bore no bullet holes from the operating troops’ firing direction but the hails of bullets came from the mangrove where the gunmen were believed to have positioned.

Reacting to statement by Allaga that the soldiers could not have done the killing since they were well trained, Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF committee on information, said the issue is not whether or not the soldiers are well trained or not.

The issue, he said, is whether they did it or not, adding that killers can be more harmful if they are well-trained. He urged the AFP to allow an third neutral body, preferably by the United Nations Human Rights body, to probe the massacre in order to give credibility to whatever findings being made.

The MILF senior leader claimed that the AFP has a very poor record as far as human rights are concerned, citing so many massacres done to the Moro people in the past.

The military’s Inspector General had earlier reported that the operation conducted by the Navy’s special forces and the US-trained Light Reaction Co. in Maimbung was legitimate. But this report triggered outrage among moro groups and an NGO.

The findings are sanitized aimed at lessening the burden of responsibility to members of the elite troops. Acting as judge for itself will lead to nowhere and no justice is expected forthcoming,” the MILF said.

“Pure lies,” said the Suara Bangsamoro party-list. For the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC), “They (military) disregard the damage to lives, limbs and property. They even disregard the findings of investigations by human rights groups and even the Commission on Human Rights.”