Maranao Online

Nov

2009

Reflections and the Relevant Khutba (SERMON)

By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (28-Nov-2009)

I am Maranao. I come from Marawi City, where many of the political vendettas in the Philippines are based. I live three hours away from Aguak where the infamous massacre happened. Some colleagues have been agitating for more aggressive statements from my end. Let me try to put my views in context.

Let me first say, I grieve, I am angry, I am more convinced that the peace imperative is high on the list of advocacies that I must engage in.

The last month I had been to many sharings that seem to have woven themselves into an inter-related tapestry of surrealness and reality. I had been involved in a research called Mindanao 2020 where the island is imagined 30 years from now . In our Scenario Building facilitated by a rare German trainor, I had joined a sub-group that would imagine the Worst Scenario in Mindanao . Just THREE days before the Ampatuan town massacre, we had imagined gangsteerism and ruthless violence taking its toll in the island. Entitled Islands of Despair , our report's discussants included an ARMM executive, Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) President Grace Rebollos, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) representative Ruby and Indigenous People's leader Edtami. We acknowledged warlordism and possible martial law in the face of certain pockets of lawlessness although isolated in the island. The rent-seeking padrino leadership in the Muslim areas and geographic distance of a national government aggravated by displacements because of the protracted peace process lent to lack of basic services and thus discontentment , disenchantment and grievance, very potent causes for recruitment to the underground world of criminality.

Nov

2009

Philippines: Massacre Shows Arroyo’s Failure to Address Impunity

Independent Investigation and Full Prosecution Crucial

New York) - The massacre of at least 47 people in Maguindanao in the southern Philippines tragically shows the failure of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration to hold accountable perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, Human Rights Watch said today.

Given allegations of involvement by members of the security forces and local militias, Human Rights Watch urged the government to initiate a fully independent investigation led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"Far too many people have been gunned down in the Philippines while President Arroyo has sat on her hands," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The possible involvement of state forces in the Maguindanao massacre means that security personnel shouldn't be allowed to interfere in an independent investigation."

Nov

2009

MORO NOTES - 01 Nov 09

By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (01-Nov-2009) VENDETTA, AN ONLINE LIFE AND THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT SULU

A birthday, whole-page in the newspaper , greetings from several local chief executives. This firms up the power of Iglesia ni Cristo founder EDUARDO MANALO .

It’s final. There is NO extension of voter’s registration, says the COMELEC. But there might be an extension in the registration of firearms, a move requested by the Philippine National Police.

Some developments in the slumbering Government – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks may be up as more entities may be “invited” to monitor the talks and join the International Contact Group (ICG).

An ambush on a vehicle in Poona Bayabao, Lanao del Sur this week leaves some five civilians dead. This according to authorities is rido (vendetta)-related with politics as the cause . Clan conflict due to political power is here to stay.

And with so many loose firearms, it’s not surprising the security forces in Sulu can be ambushed at their own detachments.

Oct

2009

MORO NOTES - 28 Oct 09

By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (28-Oct-2009) TO DONATE OR NOT TO

While the foreign community, including Arabs, has been extending donations for ONDOY, congressmen are wary of giving away some of their 70 million Country-Wide Development Fund. House Speaker Prospero Nograles says, it’s up to them to donate or not.

Islamic Development Bank (IDB) successful grantee scholars will receive an orientation on Nov. 28 in Cotabato City. Congrats! They join the roster of hundreds of beneficiaries of the largest Islamic Saudi-based donor agency in the Muslim world.

Balimbingan time. In this case, switching parties away from the ruling LAKAS-NUCD/KAMPI . Nacionalista Party (NP) despite Chiz’ defection and former LAKAS-NUCD members Surigao del Norte Governor Ace Barbers and Davao del Sur Douglas Cagas transfer expects more politicians from Mindanao to take oath with the NP. But the LAKAS is also welcoming defectees from Liberal Party as Northern Samar politicians in vote-rich Visayas took their oath before LAKAS official Eduardo Ermita.

Nov

2009

NUCP Calls for the Strengthening of the Rule of Law in Mindanao

The National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP) condemns to the strongest terms the brutal carnage of at least 36 persons in the convoy going to the Provincial Capitol of Maguindanao in Shariff Aguak. The purpose of the group was to file the certificate of candidacy of Datu Ismael “Toto” Mangudadatu who is running for governor to challenge the incumbent Ampatuan clan who has maintained a political grip not only of Maguindanao politics but also of the ARMM. Leading the victims are the wife and two sisters of Datu Ismael Mangudadatu, two lady lawyers, and media practitioners.

As religious leaders who are not only advocates but also practitioners and preachers of peace, we see the brutal massacre of helpless women and media people not only as crime against humanity but also against the law of Allah . In Islam, man is never permitted to take the life of another person unless such is within the bounds of Allah’s command. The act, indeed, was not a show of strength and power but a manifestation of cowardice and the absence, if not an outright denial, of the rule of law.

Nov

2009

Washington Times Article about the Philippines

Commentary by Richard Halloran (09-Nov-09)

In an East Asia that is generally experiencing political and economic progress from Seoul to Singapore, the Philippines stands out as a running sore that seems to have no cure.

The Asia Foundation, the nongovernmental organization seeking to stimulate development, has reported that the southern Philippines "suffers from poor infrastructure, poverty, and violence that has claimed more than 120,000 lives in the last four decades" of civil strife, terror and insurgencies, and crime that goes unchecked.

A retired U.S. military officer with long experience in Asia said that "the fundamental problem in the Philippines is that the Philippine government
has not figured out how to help the people, to pick up the garbage and to educate the children."

Nov

2009

UBC gears up to serve pilgrims

By Abdul Hannan Tago | Arab News

RIYADH: The United Bangsaranao Council (UBC), an umbrella organization of 32 civic and sports associations of Filipino Muslims, is all set to provide medicine and food to Haj pilgrims from the Philippines.

Sheikh Alinasser Radiamoda, the newly elected UBC chairman, said his group is coordinating directly with the Philippines Consulate in Jeddah and has four buses on the ready for their work.

The Jeddah-based UBC, said Radiamoda, is a broad-based coalition of Maranao organizations, also certified by the Philippines Consulate.

More Articles...