Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Marwan’s e-mails show his closeness to MILF Commander Tundok

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But why gov’t needs to deal with MILF 

Commentary By Raïssa Robles

E-mails between the slain bomber Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Marwan, and his brother Rahmat Abdhir bare a brisk trade in weaponry in the south, even between rebels and soldiers.

One e-mail dated November 2006 claimed:

“Commander A Wahid says that there is a soldier who wants to sell a new .50 caliber, for US$5,000. He said that he can only afford 2K, and asked to find the remaining 3K hehe…”

The e-mails are part of the 40-page indictment filed against Marwan in California on August 1, 2007.It was initially sealed and later made public. I have attached the indictment at the end of this piece.

The e-mails give a rare glimpse of the conflict from the Muslim rebel side.

They also show the ease with which one can order magazines (for guns, not reading materials), scopes and radios from the United States to Mindanao, the way women in Manila order makeup and clothes by mail.

Here’s an example of the actual contents of a box posted to Marwan by his brother in California who is now detained facing charges for aiding a terrorist. You can see Marwan had “stateside” taste. He liked to wear Fruit of the Loom briefs and eat Snickers and Hershey chocolates:

The e-mails have a very matter of fact tone, even when talking about the deaths of “martyrs”.

There is no question from these e-mails that Marwan was engaged in bombings and in teaching snipers.

Or that he was close to at least one Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander – Abdulwahid Tundok who heads the 118th Base Command. It is also Tundok who is being accused of firing at Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano last month which resulted in numerous deaths. Almost a year ago, Tundok was arrested at a military checkpoint  but released to “a politician” who remains unidentified to this day.

These e-mails are the bases for Senator Rene Alan Peter Cayetano’s declaration that the MILF is a terrorist group. However, nothing in the e-mail directly implicates the MILF leadership in Marwan’s dealings and activities.

Cayetano was even quoted to have said:

“Lahat tayo ay gusto ng  peace. Ang stand ko ay ituloy ang peace process. Huwag sa MILF, humanap tayo ng mga kausap dun na magbibigay ng tunay na peace.”

Let me just say this for  now. There are so many factors that we have to deal with in order to understand and solve the Mindanao conflict. Nothing is as clear cut as simply saying – the MILF is a terrorist group and therefore we should not deal with a terrorist group.

The former government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo purposely asked the United States to keep the MILF off the international terror list. And even the government of former President George W. Bush dealt directly with the MILF by sending then US Ambassador Kristie Kenney to talk directly to the MILF leadership.

This was even if the Bush government knew the close ties between the MILF and the Jemaah Islamiyah.

The long and short of it is that there is no other group to negotiate with. It’s either the MILF or bust. It is the MILF that has been deputized by most of the Muslims in Mindanao to negotiate the terms of peace on their behalf.

Mosques in Mindanao reserve part of the zakat or Friday collections to sustain the MILF, which is really more like a citizen army. Most of the soldiers are farmers or traders by day and guerrillas during conflict.

You are fighting a people here, and not just a group of armed men. You can rail all you want but that’s the truth.

And the longer the negotiations take, the more Marwans you are bound to attract in Mindanao.

Can you simply erase the Muslims from Mindanao with an all-out war?

Well the Spaniards tried that for 333 years and did not succeed. They only managed to gain a foothold in certain places like Zamboanga City (which explains the enmity between the locals there and the Muslims).

Marcos also tried that and almost lost Mindanao, according to retired General Fortunato Abat who told me a fascinating tale about the day he nearly lost Mindanao.

And there’s another problem. A take-no-prisoners, all out war will open the government to charges of genocide before the International Criminal Court. Which could give Filipino Muslims the needed ammunition to petition for secession.

What I believe the Philippine government can do is to place safeguards in the planned autonomy law that would make Mindanao a much less hospitable place for extremists and discourage secession.

And make them swear by the Quran that the Isis-brand of Islam and similar beliefs will be barred from taking root in the south.

You can read the indictment against Marwan below:

Comments

    • In the US, the US authorities need a court order to open somebody’s email.

      A hacker though can open our emails at will!

      But usually hackers sympathize with bloggers, reformers, and other net activists like us so most likely they will spare us. They will exert their effort to pry corrupt politician’s emails rather than ours.

        • no one would be interested, @NHerrera. except, of course, the missus IF the texts are “mis-sent” to another. ;)

        • Break muna…

          Pano daw mag make love yung mga 75+ years old na mag-asawa?

          *******

          Wife : Pakyoow!

          Husband : Pakyoow too!

          Wife and Husband : Soooo gyooood! Good night!

          *******

        • Ey Parekoy, 75?? ( pls don’t ban me Raissa)

          Marriage jokes:
          An 80-year-old man tells his wife, “I’m going to the doctor to get me some of those new Viagra pills.” His wife gets her coat on and says, “I’m going to the doctor, too. If you’re going to start using that rusty old thing again, I’m getting a tetanus shot.”

          ,,,,,,,,joke lang, masyado kasing serious ang balitaktakan eh! ;))

        • @NHerrera, use a different email address or number for your lovey-dab-dab. He he he he. Je jay Je jay jooooooo!!!!!

    • ang receiver ng email natin pwedeng mag-share o kaya, i-forward ang email natin sa iba. kaya halos wala tayong privacy sa email. though I would like to think that those who received emails from me will not share them with others. and if they do, there’s not much I can do about it.

    • Email has never been secure. The snail-mail analogy to keep in mind is writing a postcard and sending it through the post office. Everybody can see what’s written on the card. . There are special programs that can encrypt email such as PGP.

    • once send button is pressed, your email can and will take life of its own, reaching not only its destination but also places and people you did not think possible. emails can be passed around to other interested parties; attached, added and forwarded yet again to still more interested parties. and sometimes, your emails can come back to haunt you. can be used against you.

  2. From Zachary Abuza on July 13, 2006:

    In addition, the MILF continues to provide sanctuary to a core cadre of high-level JI operatives—including Dulmatin, Umar Patek, Zulkifli bin Hir and possibly Abdulrahman Ayub—who have continued to train members of JI and the ASG in MILF camps. Hardline members of the MILF continue to protect these operatives and contend that keeping channels open to the international jihadist community is in the MILF’s interest in the absence of a durable peace; indeed, continuing this relationship makes perfect sense.

    http://www.jamestown.org/programs/tm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=840&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=181&no_cache=1#.VOJm5GIaySM

    Rahmat quoted the article above in his e-mail to Zulkifli on July 14, 2006.

    • Was there really a puppet master?

      Did the puppet master ‘perfectly’ time the assault on Zulkifli and Usman to derail the BBL?

      Is Cayetano being ‘moved’ by the puppet master?

      • The organization where the article is originated is full of former CIA officers and hawks in US establishment.

        As far as I know, US supports the BBL law and MILF as the best compromise to check extremism in Mindanao, so it is the best interest for GRP, MILF and USA not to sabotage the BBL.

        I am not buying the puppet master theory since the operation is successful in liquidating Marwan and the botched part was the exit. If they did not get Marwan and they were ambushed then that theory might grow some legs.

        • Stretching further, the killing of Marwan was essential to make it more credible if indeed there is a puppet master. ” What is your alibi? My alibi is that i have no alibi.”

        • It’s a ‘bingo’ twice over…

          The master got Marwan and proved that he (Marwan) sleeps with Napeñas’s perceived ‘enemies’ (See Oplan Exodus blueprint as to “enemies” and “friendlies”) who are at present in ceasefire with the GPH.

        • Testimonial…

          Napeñas’s testimony at the HOR…

          When Biazon asked him where he put “MILF,” in the “enemy forces” column or “friendly forces” column?

        • Got the testimony! Napenas considered MILF as in the enemy column.

          He is correct for putting them there since they had the intel of coddling provided by informants as well as US intel.

          So who do you consider the puppet master?

        • @baycas, on the first interviews of Iqbal there was already an implied admission that they are coddling Marwan. He said that the people on that community are members of the MILF. If all of them are members, it follows that they know each and every one in the community. 500 meters from their base where Marwan resides is not very far.

      • Assuming that Bangsamoro entity becomes a reality and the MILF and/or the Muslims in the areas to be governed under the law,

        will the Americans LEAVE some areas in MINDANAO for good? Unless asked to stay by the Bangsamoro leaders, will Americans stay there? But this issue is ‘of FOREIGN MATTER’…can it be legally done? Does it need approval from the Central Gov’t?

        What would happen when American troops are casualties by MILF or by BIFF etc.?

        Can American troops retaliate or engage shooting vs MILF BIFF etc., even without approval by the Central Gov’t?

  3. SERENDIPITY

    I recall @Alan writing recently here that peace making (like the Irish experience on that) is hard, it is not a walk-in-the-park, or something to that effect.

    What happened has happened. The good side of the Incident is that we have a chance to progress from the initial invention of the wheel to the tire that we have today. This may just be the stimulant (notwithstanding the pain, sacrifices, mistakes) to make that quantum jump to a better and lasting peace.

  4. While we are on this topic, I read the opinion piece of Teddy Casino in inquirerdotnet, and I write the following:

    ORWELL’S-ANIMAL-FARM SOLUTION OF CASINO

    No, waiting till 2016 simply will not do. When the President steps down (forced of course, otherwise Binay takes over under the Constitution), the government will be run by a temporary council (with Bayan rep of course) till a final government with blah-blah-blah (again with Bayan rep of course) runs the government.

    Sounds good as far as that fairy tale goes — but with angels like Tatad, Colmenares, Arguelles running the show, who knows we may yet do Orwell’s Animal Farm better. (“Animals with four legs good; with two legs bad”).

    QUESTION: WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WHO WILL BE THE NAPOLEON — THE TOP PIG OF THE ANIMAL FARM?

  5. My take:

    1. Work for peace with the MILF in the context of Raissa’s notes above. Finding that illusive, ideal partner to negotiate with, as stated by Cayetano, is a desired ideal but a mirage nevertheless. (Methinks Cayetano has to invent that route to support his statement of wanting peace but at the same time give rationale to his understandable rantings on the MILF).

    2. Work on the BBL with revisions along the line contained in Item 3 of @Parekoy’s Post 2.1.

  6. Hinulog ni commander tundok si marwan bata niya ang guide sumama sa SAF at ang iba nasa custody nang police intel naghihintay nang pabuya may parti di tundok.

  7. i don’t think making them swear by the Quran will really work. it may be binding but not unbreakable. kaffarah lang ang katapat nyan.

    then there is the part that an “infidel” asked them to do it which they could rationalize into a coercive action rather than a request.

    magkano kaya monetary compensation o gaano kaya katagal ang fasting pag binali nila ang oath na yan? ;)

    • Did you forget [email protected] ‘their compensation’? 70 VIRGINS awaiting a Muslim rebel breaker of the QURAN in the promised LAND !

      and a Muslim rebel breaker also goes squeezing the trigger like the fastingest gun alive !

      My imaginations.

      • Sa totoo lang pinaka hate ko yang fixation ng holy book nila sa virgins! Kaya nai-instutionalize sa kanila ang pagiging doormat ng babae e. Kaya rin ako kinakabahan sa pagkakaroon ng sharia laws sa bangsamoro. Mamaya nyan kailangan naka burqa na ang babae pag nagpunta sa sulu. Hello! Kaya ka nga nagpunta don dahil sa beach tapos magbu burqa ka?

  8. I am also for peace making process. That is why we voted , installed authorities and smart open -minded people to make laws and be advocates for both sides undertaking, as well to make and keep safeguards for any rise of conflict. Those are for the senators and advocates to do , keep on talking and clear the coast.
    One unclear aspect for me is the Sharia Law. Is this for all Muslims, what about the non-Muslims that maybe living in the territory?
    Here’s one news that I find a little funny and alarming at the same time.
    “Isis beheads cigarette smokers because smoking is ‘slow suicide’ under Sharia law.”( pls google news)
    Pnoy must now do a big turn around of not smoking especially when he visits the Muslim territory, ;))
    But it’s also true that smoking is like doing a slow suicide, but of course there are other ways of quitting. Killing due to smoking is quite barbaric.This and some big and small details can also be talk over on the table eating some popcorn and Hershey’s candy.
    It’s rather nice to become a sweet-toothed than a stained nicotine tooth as for me. (*!*)

    • Under the draft BBL, non-Muslims have access to regular courts, and Sharia Law does not apply to them. Other areas of concern are also addressed in the BBL, such as equal rights for women.

      • Thanks JOEAM, I hope that works in a land of multiple disagreements, I have to admit, each to his own laws and rights.
        The one I subscribed to is the Law of Reflection which encompasses the law of unconditional love
        If unconditional love is not possible, then reflection gives another second of opportunities or not at all.
        If I may: Web:
        This Law says that the traits you respond to in others, you recognize in yourself, both positive and negative. It has four primary manifestations:

        1. That which you admire in others, you recognize as existing within yourself;
        2. That which you resist and react to strongly in others is sure to be found within yourself;
        3. That which you resist and react to in others is something which you are afraid exists within you; and,
        4. That which you resist in yourself, you will dislike in others.
        In other words, you have chosen to incarnate ( represent ) the manifest plane to learn to rise above the effect of fear. Those fears will always be reflected in your reactions to others, Thus your goals are very obvious once you recognize how to perceive them. As you let go of the fear, you automatically open to expressing more unconditional love.

        • That is absolutely the best law. I use business-like terms like “accountability” or soul-searching terms like “look within” to articulate this need for understanding of self. The law expresses that in very clear terms.

          Edgar Lores would be proud of you . . . and maybe me . . . ahaha

          What a wonderful enlightenment. Thanks, netty.

        • Nuh-uh. Netty is much too deep for me. :-)

          On reflection, my personal laws of reflection are:

          1. That which I admire in others, I recognize as lacking in me. (That is why I admire them. Like courage, a lack of inhibition, and a wicked sense of humor.)

          2. That which I love and react to strongly in others is sure to be found within me. (Like respect, intelligence (hopefully), and love itself.)

          3. That which I love and react to in others is something I am afraid I have. (Like vices and attachments.)

          4. That which I love in myself, I will love in others. (Like an attitude of inquiry in order to understand.)

          Unconditional love is possible for dogs, people with Down syndrome… and parasites.

        • Well, I rather knew this was up your alley, and you have indeed added more depth to the reflections of self vs. others. I was taken, however, by the notion that your laws are very much based on love, yet your closing line cites the futility of love. I deduce from that that the laws are not rules so much as principles, the latter being what we strive for endlessly, even while knowing they are unattainable.

          Rather like believing in the principles of democracy is largely like pissing into the wind for distance, because we have knee-jerk politicians like Casino who don’t get it.

      • this is why students taking up law in mindanao universities have an “extra” course in shariah law.

      • What about if the litigants are a Muslim and non-Muslim?

        What about if the crime is continuing and crosses borders? (An analogy is when someone committing a state crime crosses the state border while actively committing the crime which, I think, converts the crime from a statutory offense into a federal crime.)

        Ah, some complications!

        • If Art Montesa shows up on your thread again, remind him of the disgusting mess (un-eaten balut eggs) he left on top of the table at the Woodhaven Bowling Lanes in New York City. He brings his booze hidden in his bowling bag every friday night which is a no-no with the management then later gets tipsy loud and nobody have seen him buying drinks at the bar.
          He almost got the whole Pinoy Bowling League banned from the place.LOL

  9. “These e-mails are the bases for Senator Rene Cayetano’s declaration that the MILF is a terrorist group. However, nothing in the e-mail directly implicates the MILF leadership in Marwan’s dealings and activities.”
    You mean, Senator Alan Cayetano, i believe.

    • “… However, nothing in the e-mail directly implicates the MILF leadership in Marwan’s dealings and activities.”

      Indeed the MILF leadership, acting in their official capacity, have so far never been directly implicated conniving with Marwan.

      From where I sit, however, countless circumstantial evidences from way back up to the present are scattered all over the crime scene clearly pointing out the truth that, at the very least, the MILF leadership, nay, the entire MILF community, as a people (as has been characterized), by and large, from the top to bottom, has been “not inadvertently” condoning without limitation or conditionality Marwan’s dealings and activities.

      IMHO, winning the war for the hearts and minds of the Muslim masa is foremost and urgent. For example, instead of giving 70 billion pesos annually to the Muslim feudal leaders i.e., warlords and political lords, this money is better spent, starting today, to build hospitals and schools, farming and fishing institutions, livelihood, technology, and financing resource centers, etc [ Ciel Habito and Tony Meloto can readily provide sound direction]. Every positive result from this effort to win over the people away from the feudalistic way of life provide the government golden opportunities to implement the law more efficiently as well as vice-versa. This envisioned situation is certainly far removed from the vicious cycle of war and resentment on both sides.

      • A muslim male nurse has a catholic nurse partner ( both Filipinos) here in England, He told us quite a few times that the financial / monetary support for muslims from the governments is being distributed to muslims to buy as many lands as they can and register them in their name, that the monies are not being channelled to projects that would improve the lives of the people like building schools, hospitals and livelihood projects.

        The government has to strictly monitor where the monies are going, that they are spent on the intended projects that has / had been agreed upon. The monitor committee has to be equipped with nerve of steel.

        • “… that the monies are not being channelled to projects that would improve the lives of the people like building schools, hospitals and livelihood projects.

          Precisely this is what I am trying to point out… that whatever money the government allocates for the so called Bangsa Moro region should not be put in the hands of the feudal lords. Instead, these funds should be administered by proven development advocates subject to presidential and/or legislative oversight.

          At the risk of oversimplification, I characterize the BBL as a shortcut solution to peace by way of buying the pseudo leaders with money and political power. Parang PDAF, in a way.

      • That is theoretically the idea to be implemented.

        But look, how our national leaders handles OUR MONEY! Will the Bangsamoro leadership not also follow our national leadership corrupt practices when it comes to holding and spending the MONEY?

        Ex: how did ARMM Misuari do it? During his time the budget was around P650 million pesos. How did he use or spend it? Isn’t it he increased his wives? He occupied 2 or more floors of flashy hotels when he comes to Metro Manila? With a huge entourage?

        Now, for Yr 2015 the BUDGET FOR ARMM is about P24 billion pesos. Will 90% of this be for: hospitals, schools, farming, fishing, livelihood, tehchologiies and financing centers, etc.”

        As I said, look at our national leaders how they spend the MONEY !

        • @ Leona

          Your Misuari and BUDGET FOR ARMM examples support the proposition that striking a peace agreement with the MILF is nothing but an obstinate continuation of a failed policy; that the weakness of this approach lies on the insistence on continuation of the pseudo Muslim leaders’ hold to power and money which allows the perpetuation of “Bangsa Moro style” feudalism.

          On the other hand, the vicious cycle of war and resentment needs to be broken (Poe: Ang sugat ‘pag palaging kinukutkot, mas lumalalim).

          IMO, both approaches, dealing with the psudo leaders are short cut approaches that do not address the real issue of winning the hearts and mind of Muslim Filipinos.

        • parentony! . . .You could be right on that.

          I glanced at Philstar news paper and the headline is ‘Palace – Any BBL law will do’ !
          Ganoon ba?

          Susma! What a news!

        • Oh gosh I hate feudalism in all its forms ha. Kaya lang tingnan mo naman ang congress natin — mga mega-landed elites may political dynasty ang karamihan. Wish ko lang with all my heart hindi tayo gayahin ng mga bangsamoro sa pagpili ng leaders nila. Wishful thinking yan kasi marami rin sa kanila ang hindi nakapag-aral. Hay :(

  11. Clueless….. Finding MILF people peace loving is like looking for a virgin in a whorehouse. But this I can give u much. Not all muslims are terrorists. I would even accept that most Muslims are peace loving like Christians. But these peace loving muslims are irrelevant in the leadership of MILF the same way peace loving Germans were irrelevant when Hitler and the SSS minority wanted the blood of entire Europe. Saddam Hussein and his party were a minority in Iraq, but they were able to hijack the aspirations of peace loving Iraquis. Same thing with Afghanistan. Khadafi and his army were a minority in Libya but they were able to hijack the peace aspirations of the Libyans. The Mullahs were minority but they hijacked the peace aspirations of the Afghans. Majority of Filipinos love their political freedom, but one scoundrel hijacked that aspiration and treated them like sheep only worthy of slaughter for 20 tyrannical rule.

    But would anyone from the MILF admit that it is connected with international terrorists? NO, only one of its personalities was involved with international terrorists, and that is not MILF itself with terrorism.

    Words are cheap… Same way Marcos said that he was declaring martial law to save democracy.. when in fact he was anti-democracy. MILF said it is for peace, when actually it is pro-war. One’s character is not known through his words, but through his actions. So far the MILF/BIFF slaughtered the 44 SAF policemen in close range when they had fallen and helpless, then robbed them of their personal effects. U want to talk peace with the bandits like your President? Go ahead, but please don’t begrudge others who won’t!

  12. I am a true Mindanaoan! I was born & raised in a Muslim-Christian community. My classmates were Muslims & we played & even shared our foods most of the time. Peacefully! Fact is, I met a classmate who’s a Muslim, serving as a Doctor in one of the hospitals here. Like me, she is also worried about the Situation there in Mindanao. She’s from Cotabato..
    We both hope that the government can find a peaceful solution to this longtime conflict.

    • astaga! aden mambo i have a fellow mindanaoan here. i, too, grew up in cotabato city. i grew up with muslim friends and all that taught me was religious tolerance. i am worried for my family who are still there. it is true what raissa said that these milf, mnlf are not full-time guerilla. most are ordinary farmers who are just part-time fighters when the need arises (because, believe me, the need does arise). we have had past elected government officials who are milf or mnlf.

      we are tired. we just want a long-term, solid solution to what ails mindanao.

  13. As I mentioned earlier on the other blog topic, the allegations in the indictment include a little noticed article stating that Marwan and his associates received money from a Chinese.

    This is consistent with intelligence reports that he is also receiving financial support from China through his Tunisian “facilitator.”

    Thus there is a need for a closer look at China’s role in the on-going trouble in Mindanao.

      • If we put Binay and the like as president for a generation or more and the Bangsamoro puts a competent and honest head, the people in Luzon and Visayas might clamor for a Bangsamoro republic for the whole Philippines.

        • If Bangsamoro republic is already in the whole Philippines, I will be have TWO PRAYERS: one in the morning – Lord God have mercy !,

          and one in the afternoon ALLAH AKBAR! I might win the LOTTO this time.

    • @ that Marwan and his associates received money from a Chinese.

      If the above is true, then a Marwan / China / MILF link will indicate that OPLAN EXODUS was not a mis-encounter but a successful “SABOTAGE”! No wonder Negropointe went there.

      Yesterday Presidente Aquino announced ” Any BBL is good enough”, It might not even pass into law during his term, for whatever there’s left.
      There might even be a little war to punish the MILF for letting China “IN” the BBL affair. If this happens………………….let us hope the next President of the Philippines will be smart enough to use the circumstance for the country’s benefit $$$$ not his own.(Hello P-Binay lol)

      Mindanao has been theirs ( US globalists) for almost a century and it’s bold and foolish of China to mingle in the BBL affair, just because they let them have the Spratlys.

      Global Economy is 80% in placed…. the “new greedies” like China, Russia will attempt to replace the old US/European hemogenists greedies. Weakling countries are always on the receiving.

      The Philippines is the Ukraine of the Far East! If the Pinoyple will not clean-up their act……….by the end of the century the Philippines will be totally dissasembled. LOL

      • Addendum:

        They targeted Malaysia Airlines, to warn other Asian nations against charting an independent economic course as Malaysia has done, and serving payback for the war crimes judgments against Illuminati nations United States and Israel by the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal

    • This post from JBL when on hibernation so I’m taking the liberty of copying and pasting it here:

      Author: JBL
      Comment:
      @ that Marwan and his associates received money from a Chinese.

      If the above is true, then a Marwan / China / MILF link will indicate that OPLAN EXODUS was not a mis-encounter but a successful “SABOTAGE”! No wonder Negropointe went there.

      Yesterday President Aquino announced “Any BBL is good enough”, It might not even pass into law during his term, for whatever there’s left.
      There might even be a little war to punish the MILF for letting China “IN” the BBL affair. If this happens………………….let us hope the next President of the Philippines will be smart enough to use the circumstance for the country’s benefit $$$$ not his own.(Hello P-Binay lol)

      Mindanao has been theirs ( US globalists) for almost a century and it’s bold and foolish of China to mingle in the BBL affair, just because they let them have the Spratlys.

      Global Economy is 80% in placed…. the “new greedies” like China, Russia will attempt to replace the old US/European hemogenists greedies. Weakling countries are always on the receiving.

      The Philippines is the Ukraine of the Far East! If the Pinoyple will not clean-up their act……….by the end of the century the Philippines will be totally dissasembled. LOL

      • Phil — Ukraine of the far east!? I sure hope not! I am still optimistic about the peace efforts.

        Was watching interviews with Mohagher Iqbal when the reporters asked him kung ano mangyayari pag hindi nanalo ang milf as leaders ng bangsamoro pag nagka election sa kanila. Ang sagot ni Iqbal sounded like “e di hindi.” Tongue-in-cheek kaya yung sagot nya as in “yeah right hindi kami mananalo?” Or is that his way of appeasing people in luzon, visayas and non muslim mindanao para maniwala tayo na ire respect nila ang mga ritwal ng bansa natin katulad ng election? Siguro it’s a little of both.

  14. This is a very good piece of information Ms. Raissa! My THREE SALUTES to you!

    And you asked very good questions, among others, LIKE:

    1. Do we want more Marwans?
    2. Can you simply erase the Muslims from Mindanao with an all-out war?
    3. Can the Philippine government place safeguards in the planned autonomy law that would make Mindanao a much less hospitable place for extremists and discourage secession.

    Etc. Thanks Raissa. KUDOS!

    • If you oblige me to answer them…

      1. Do we want more Marwans?

      No!

      2. Can you simply erase the Muslims from Mindanao with an all-out war?

      Hypothetically yes thru genocide, but we are not animals at the same time the MILF has foreign sponsors like Malaysia and other Moslem Countries (Arabs), and maybe China too, who iare willing to provide military hardware if push comes to shove, so the answer is logically no

      3. Can the Philippine government place safeguards in the planned autonomy law that would make Mindanao a much less hospitable place for extremists and discourage secession.

      Yes! Especially now that if BBL is given a second life, many of our lawmakers and citizens will scrutinize pertinent clauses, which before were tilting towards the benefit of the MILF and detrimental to our government, which BBL railroaded if passed, will eventualy disintegrate because of the flaws will cause it! So safeguards are required and actually mutually beneficial for both parties

      • Re Item 3 — Yes, no other sensible way but for BBL to go through a Second Pass, if the essential concept of BBL is to survive and be workable.

        And yes again to the last phrase –“… and actually mutually beneficial for both parties.”