Papers, Newsletters, Reports & StatementsLuzon-based Muslim Filipino leaders pushing for Federal Mindanao

“Federalism could be the solution to end Bangsamoro rebellion in RP South”

San Juan, 16 December 2016—- Muslim leaders, which include three Senatorial aspirants, have bonded together and declared their support behind the federalisation of Mindanao under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Muslim leaders who attended the Federalism forum organized by the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID) at San Juan, included Muslim senatorial bets Amina Rasul (PDP-Laban-UNO, 2004), Prof. Moner Bajunaid and Adel Tamano (Team Unity, 2007), Former Congressmen Omar Fajardo and Arden Anni, ARMM secretary Atty. Anwar Malanog, Sultan Hadji Nur Hassan of the Supreme Council of the Royal Sultanate of Jolo, Chancellor Lorenzo Reyes of the Mindanao State University in Tawi-Tawi and Atty. Rex Panumpang, head of the Greenhills Moro Traders.

Federalism advocates former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr and Atty. Raul Lambino also attended the forum. Pimentel gave his presentation justifying why it is crucial for Mindanao to federalize immediately.

Amina Rasul, PCID convenor, says they have gathered leaders from the Muslim diaspora to be able to get their views on on-going efforts at federalism. The forum is the first event organized which gathered Muslim leaders since the failed adoption of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

In a quick survey held at the forum, 76% or 48 out of 63 Muslim leaders have expressed their full support behind efforts being undertaken right now for the federalisation of Mindanao thru a Constitutional Convention. While 34 leaders expressed the view that should cha-cha be undertaken thru constituent assembly, the Senate and Congress should vote separately.

Amina Rasul, PCID convenor says most Filipino Bangsamoros have a positive view on federalism, perceived as the right governance model in archipelagic and culturally diversed countries such as the Philippines. There is a perception among Muslim Filipinos, Rasul shares, that autonomy has failed and has even led to the further impoverishment of Muslim Filipinos living in Southern Philippines.

“ For many years, Filipino Bangsamoros have expressed a somber view of autonomy as realized by the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Many even say that the ARMM was just a “pacification tool” of Malacanan to arrest the rising tide of Bangsamoro independence efforts in the early 2002.

Listening to President Duterte, I agree with him that federalism could be the political solution we, Filipino Muslims are actively aspiring for. Federalism could speed up economic recovery of the South, leading to more jobs and more business opportunities. “

For decades, Muslim Filipinos have been fighting for the share of economic gains controlled and managed by the centralised government since 1915. Insurgent activities rose when U.P. professor Nur Misuari organised the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which initially advocated for cessation yet, was eventually convinced to negotiate with the Philippine government in the seventies. In 1978, the Philippine government and the MNLF entered into an agreement in Tripoli Libya which took at least 18 years before the agreement was implemented under the Ramos administration thru the ARMM.