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Bangsamoro Struggle

Abhoud Syed M. Lingga

Executive Director

Institute of Bangsamoro Studies

Symposium on The Plight of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Struggle

University Convention Center, Central Mindanao University

Musuan, Bukidnon

September 13, 2006


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Costs of the conflict

50,000 deaths

2 million refugees

535 mosques destroyed

200 schools demolished

35 cities and towns destroyed


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Costs of the conflict

Government spent P76 billion from 1970-1996

Government spent no less than P6 billionin 2000 all-out war against the MILF

Economic output lost directly

$2 billion to $3 billion from 1970-2001(about P5 billion to P7.5 billion annually)


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Who are the conflicting parties?

The Government of the Republic of thePhilippines

The Bangsamoro people

Represented by Moro National Liberation Front

Moro Islamic Liberation Front


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The Muslims whotraditionally inhabited

Mindanao, the islands of Basilan,

Palawan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

call themselves Bangsamoro.

Who are theBangsamoro?


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They are the

Iranun

Magindanaon

MaranaoTao-Sug

Sama

Yakan

Badjao

Jama Mapun

KaganKalibugan

Sangil

MolbogPalawani


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Bangsamoro Homeland

The traditional homeland of theBangsamoro people were the territoriesunder the jurisdiction of their governments

before the Philippine Republic.

The Sulu Sultanate exercised sovereigntyover the present day provinces ofSulu,

Tawi-Tawi, Palawan, Basilan and theMalaysian state of Sabah (North

Borneo).


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Bangsamoro Homeland

The territory of the Magindanaw Sultanateincluded Maguindanao province, the coastalareas of the provinces of Sultan Kudarat,South Cotabato, Sarangani, parts of Lanao

provinces, Davao del Sur and DavaoOriental, and the eastern part of Zamboangadel Sur.

The Datu Dakula of Sibugay, who ruled theSibugay autonomous region under theMagindanaw Sultanate, exercised jurisdictionoverZamboanga del Norte, ZamboangaSibugay, Zamboanga City and the western

part of Zamboanga del Sur.


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Bangsamoro Homeland

The Rajah of Buayan ruled North Cotabato, the uppervalley of Maguindanao and the interior areas ofSultan Kudarat and South Cotabato and some partsof Bukidnon.

The Pat a Pangampong ko Ranao (confederation of thefour lake-based emirates) ruled the interior parts ofLanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and parts ofBukidnon, and eastern and western Misamisprovinces.

The small sultanate of Kabuntalan separates the domainsof Magindanaw and Buayan


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ISSUES

Core issue

is the assertion

of theBangsamoro

people for

restorationof their

independence.

Other Issues

Landmass povertyneglect

underdevelopmentsocial inequities


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Bases of Bangsamoro Struggle

for Self-determination

Their historical right as free and

independent nation before theformation of the Philippine state

Their unpleasant experiences underthe Philippine republic


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Historical Experiences

Before the arrival of the Spanish colonialists theBangsamoro were already in the process of stateformation, while Luzon and the Visayas were still inthe barangay stage of political development.

They had developed well-organized administrativeand political systems; and

Organized strong maritime and infantry forces thatdefended the Bangsamoro territories from Westerncolonial intrusion, thus preserving the continuity oftheir independence


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Resistance continued even during theAmerican occupation. Although thesultanate-sponsored resistance were not asfierce as during the Spanish-Moro wars, butgroup-organized and individual resistance(prang sabil martyrdom seekingoperations) continued.

These compelled the U.S. to govern the Moroterritories separate from the PhilippineIslands.


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When the U.S. planned to grant independence

to the Philippines, Bangsamoro leaders

petitioned the U.S. government that the

Bangsamoro territories should not beincluded in the would-be Philippine Republic.

June 9, 1921- petition of the people of Sulu

February 1, 1924 - Declaration of Rightsand Purposes (Zamboanga declaration)

March 18, 1935 - Dansalan Declaration


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When their territories were made part of thePhilippine Republic in 1946, theBangsamoro people continue to assert

their right to independence

Amilbangsa Bill (H.B. 5682)

MIM Manifesto Organization of the MNLF and MILF


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Experiences Under the Philippines

Strong bias and prejudice of the Christianmajority towards the Muslims

Filipinas Foundation study (1973) Muslim-Filipinos were the least likeable ethnic group 54% of respondents had unfavorable comments towards

Muslims

Philippine Human Development Report (2005) 33% to 39% of Filipinos are biased against Muslims 46% of Christian population would choose Christian male

worker and 40% Christian female domestic helper. Only 4%will choose a Muslim male worker and 7% Muslim femaledomestic helper.

In Metro Manila 57 percent opt for residence with higher rentbut far from a Muslim community.


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Muslim Majority Areas

2000 Census


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Palawan


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Failure of the Government to protect the interest of the

Bangsamoro people over theirlands.

Worst still, government

development programs are amongthe reasons why they lost theirlands to migrants from the north.


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Public Land Law and Resettlement

Allowed Number of Hectares

1,024 has.4 has.16 has.1936

1,024 has.10 has.24 has.1919

1,024 has.

No

provision16 has.1903

CorporationMoro andWild Tribe

HomesteaderYear


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Failure of Government to deliver basicservices and needed development

Muslim areas continue to suffer the highestpoverty incidence.

Between 1991-1997, there was reduction in

poverty incidence in many parts of the countrybut in predominantly Muslim areas povertyincidence increased.


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0

20

40

60

80

Incidence of Poor Families

Lanao Sur 55.6 55

Maguindanao 41.6 55

Sulu 67.1 63.2

Tawi-Tawi 35 56.5

Basilan 20.9 26.2

1997 2000


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Human Development Index, 2003

0.36Tawi-Tawi75

0.41Basilan74

0.45Sulu77

0.48Lanao del Sur68

0.36Maguindanao76

HDIProvincesNational Rank

Note: The HDI is a summary measure of human development. It measures the average achievement

in a country in three basic dimensions of human development, namely: Longevity as measured by

life expectancy at birth; Knowledge, as measured by basic enrollment ratio; Standard of Llving, as

measured by real income per capita (Philippine Human Development Report, 2005, UNDP

Source: Human Development Report 2005 (UNDP)


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Failure of Government to protect their personsand properties

Reported massacres of Muslims remain unsolved

until now (e.g., massacres in Manili, Tacub,Malisbung, Pata island)

Reported bombings of mosques remain unsolved.

A senior police superintendent was quoted (see

Manila Times website, 11/19/03) to have said:

We are at war with Islam, and the Muslims are theaggressors. Nobody wants to recognize that, butthats whats happening.

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