Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Speak out: MOA with MILF By Delo Y. Aton
OUR peace panel may have the best intention in mind, but I just hope that they have taken all factors when they crafted the MOA.
Their mantra is that this is not after all a done deal. The MOA should be approved by the people thru an election or through a constitutional process.
The only problem is they made a circus out of it, to be signed and witnessed by Malaysia and the international communities. This act alone will give the MILF the wrong notion that they are given the same treatment as the Republic of the Philippines, as such, they are considered as equal of our Republic. The leaders of the MILF can certainly use this to give a misplaced pride to their followers and to attract more combatants to join their cause.
I have nothing against Muslims, in fact in 1972, as a young soldier I was assigned in Sanga-Sanga, Tawi-Tawi for several years. I met a lot of “kabagayan” and have seen a lot of “malingkat na budyang.” I found the Tausugs inspite of their poverty as honorable men but woe to the person who has wronged them, as they said “miyatay na katan.”
All I am asking for our government to print in full the MOA in the media and invite all the people, especially those affected, to discuss the pros and cons of the MOA and hopefully come to an agreement that our people will understand and agree to.
