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.
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.
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