BJE: Is this the last resort?

In the light of confusion and misunderstanding between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the real stakeholders that are placed under the limelight of abuses and conflicts are the residents of the affected areas in Mindanao. In North Cotabato, Tipo Tipo-Basilan and the like, the quest to an anomalous peace which was intervened by the Supreme Court through the issuance of the Temporary Restraining Order whereby it temporarily halted the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement-Ancestral Domain, has flickered the problem on the inequality against the Moro populace. In turn, injustice actions such as burning of houses, killing of innocent civilians and marketing on human-shield as their ticket to exit the area has been a rampant practice by the so-called lost command of the MILF.

In my own personal discretion, I stand firm with the believe that the expansion of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) should not be a tool for peace in the Mindanao region. Rather this attempt will create a dichotomy and polarization of the people- both the Christian settlers and the Muslim communities in the areas claimed to be part of the Ancestral domain. Moreover, the principle of cultural differences and unjustified distribution of resources as presented by the MILF to pursue their dream of a federal and alienated region of the country is like sniveling under the skirt of relativism. Furthermore, the status of ARMM at present in terms of economic development is similar with that of Burundi in Africa. Thus, the progress and development of the expansion is questionable given that in status quo the region is underdeveloped. With this, I say, If we can live in peace and unity amidst the diversity of cultures and traditions, why then should we resort to this chaotic solution?