Tag: armm

Under federalism, EVERY Filipino tribe will find out what they are REALLY made of

July 13, 2018July 14, 2018 benign0 25 Comments

At the moment, every boy and his dog is writing one or another bit of “analysis” on the matter of the Philippines’ transformation into a federal republic. Under a federal system of government, each state is given autonomy to sort out its own affairs leaving the feds to handle the bigger issues of national consequence…

Charter Change, Culture, Development

#PrayForMarawi? The folly in Manilenos’ calls for solidarity with Mindanao Muslims

May 25, 2017 benign0 7 Comments

Chi-chi Manilenos have made waxing liberal poetic about being in “solidarity” with their “Muslim brothers” in Mindanao the current fashion trend. Social media timelines are filled with flowery euphemisms and platitudes on the subject fit for Hallmark greeting cards all punctuated by hashtags such as the multi-day trending hit #PrayForMarawi. All nice and peachy, of…

Culture, Government, The South

Can Marawi City’s reputation as a no-go-zone for Filipino Christians be changed?

May 24, 2017 benign0 11 Comments

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte finally found a reason to declare Martial Law in Mindanao, the Philippines’ second biggest island and host to the country’s most troubled flashpoints. This follows an eruption of violence in the Mindanao city of Marawi, Lanao del Sur in which pro-Islamic State insurgents based there known as the Maute clashed with…

Culture, Religion, The South

MNLF head Nur Misuari is the Janet Lim Napoles of the Zamboanga crisis

September 18, 2013September 18, 2013 benign0 12 Comments

The root issue in the on-going trouble down under in Mindanao is the way the Philippine government has traditionally cozied up to even the meanest and baddest terrorist and rebel groups “for the sake of peace”. Currently, it is the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that is being painted as the bad guy, and rightly…

Crime, Government, Politics

Zamboanga crisis: MNLF leader Nur Misuari not only lost his cause, he also lost the plot

September 16, 2013June 30, 2014 Ilda 39 Comments

The current clashes between Philippine government troops and members of a Muslim rebel group in Zamboanga City of Mindanao despite the 2012 Framework Agreement should be a lesson to all especially President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino that one should never negotiate with terrorists. Obviously, the most recent peace agreement cooked up by the government with…

Development, Government, Politics, Religion

After Bangsamoro: Do the Cordilleras, Visayas, and the rest of Mindanao have equal claim to autonomy?

October 11, 2012October 11, 2012 benign0 57 Comments

Peace at last in Mindanao — or so people hope in the advent of greater autonomy granted by the government of President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III to rebellious Muslim groups there. The Framework Agreement covering the terms of this autonomy is set to be signed on the 15th of October this year between the…

Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Politics