War Again?

By Frank E. Dosdos, Jr.

Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

February 1, 2015

If the noise of the shouts and the cheers that shook the main street of the Islamic City of Marawi this morning when a speaker called for a resumption of the Jihad for Bangsamoro Independence mean what they meant, a WAR in Mindanao may happen again.

In a rally this morning organized by the moderate SAKSI, a group of about 20 organizations of two-way radio communicators in Marawi and the province of Lanao del Sur, some speakers were not able to hold their emotions as they shouted, “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is great) and thousands of clenched fists of men and women rose on the air.

In a statement distributed to local, regional and national Media, bearing the signatures of SAKSI President/Lead Convenor Datu Musa Sultan and Secretary Bae Mara Maleika Saber-Macarambon said that they made a public declaration of “our sentiments, disappointment and abhorrence over the deliberate and even intentional non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.”

The statement stated that they, ”respectfully call on His Excellency President Benigno Aquino III to fulfill his promise to exercise his political will to implement what he had committed in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.”

“Now is the right moment to demonstrate political will, sportsmanship,, sincerity and strong leadership in the midst of a highly polarized citizenry,” it said.

“Mr. President, please do not sacrifice the BBL on the altar of politics and save the peace process that became the lifetime quests of your parents, the late Senator Ninoy and the Late President Cory for the Muslim Filipinos,” it appealed.

The statement also specifically mentioned Congressmen Celso Lobregat and Lito Atienza who “mangled, water-down and lacerate the BBL beyond recognition.”

It also said that they were disappointed by the “dismal performance of Congressman Rufus Rodriguez who did not defend the BBL at all.

Senators Ferdinand Marcos, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero and Grace Poe were also hit for demonstrating their, “irrational, insensitive and flawed judgment on the Mamasapano incident which derailed the passage of the BBL.”

In an interview with the Media, former Congressman Benasing Macarambon, Jr. of the 2nd District of Lanao del Sur who is running now for re-election, said that the Bangsamoro thinks that the Secret Commando Operation of the PNP in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano was purposely destined to fail so that the passage of the BBL will be derailed.

At the height of the rally, the crowed waved hundreds of placards bearing harsh statements against President Aquino, among which were many that says, “NOYNOY TRAYDOR.”
A young speaker who identified himself as a Bangsamoro Mujahedin led the people in singing the Anthem of the Bangsamoro and in chanting, “Noynoy Traydor.”

The crowd dispersed at past noon with everyone showing looks of fulfillment in their faces.