Sore Thumb

For thirty nine years the Philippine government has been at war with the New People’s Army, more or less two decades with the Islamic Militant group Abu Sayyaf, and three decades with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Needless to say the Philippines has been spending years of conflict with no imminent end in sight.

The fact that the country’s problem on insurgency is not as worst as those of other countries is something that Filipinos should be thankful for; but the fact that its there is also something to be worried about.

Like corruption, insurgency has been like a particularly stubborn weed which simply refuses to die no matter how many times you try to trample on it. The war between government forces and various rebel groups has been on going for decades now and has claimed hundreds of lives, ruined properties, families, and the prospect of a progressive Philippines.

Mindanao is an island with strong potentials in the tourism industry as well as business potentials. But the on going conflict in various places in the island has smeared Mindanao’s reputation. It created the image of Mindanao as a war torn place that could bring danger to anybody who sets foot in it instead of an island abundant in natural resources and teeming with possibilities. These possibilities are often overshadowed by news of kidnappings, bombings, ambush and encounters.

The presence of armed groups, reinforced by stories of kidnappings and violence, scares off and discourages potential investors. The clashes between government and rebel troops have constantly displace residents of affected places, traumatized them as well as ruin their livelihoods. How can one expect progress with these?

Aside from these, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is spending millions of pesos to finance the equipment needed by the troops in Mindanao. If the war escalates, the Armed Forces would need more equipment, more troops; hence, a bigger budget. And additional budget to the defense department would mean lesser budget to the other departments.

The on-going conflict in Mindanao has been like a sore thumb, sticking out and making its presence felt no matter how you try to pretend that its not there. The on going conflict affects the business and tourism potential of Mindanao and is, therefore, impeding the chance of the country to develop and progress.

This conflict is a product of the Moros fight for self-determination as a people with distinct history and identity. A fight which gave birth to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the 1970’s and eventually to the MILF as the latter broke away from the MNLF. The ensuing conflicts that erupted between Moro and Christian paramilitary troops gave way to the war that became a burden to the country for 30 years.

For ten years now there had been peace talks between the government and the MILF. These peace talks enable negotiation between both parties for them to arrive at an agreement that would finally put the Mindanao conflict to rest.

With the presence of the NPA, Abu Sayyaf and other revolutionary and criminal groups, the war in Mindanao has never really ended. However the peace talks between the MILF and the government, at least, gave the government one less enemy to hunt.
The conflict in Mindanao, and the problem on insurgency as a whole, speaks a lot of things. It does not only symbolize the Moros struggle for autonomy but it eloquently speaks of the people’s distrust and dissatisfaction with the government.

The biggest problem that the Philippines faces is not the fact that it is geographically divided; but the fact that the people refuse to acknowledge that despite the problem on geography they are still bound under one race and must, therefore, learn to work together for good. Regardless of the differences in dialect, ethnicity and religion, they are all Filipinos who belong to one country that is presently plagued with poverty and corruption.

The Philippines is constantly facing problems that test its resolve as a country aiming for progress and development. But no matter how hard the country tries to move forward a lot of issues impede its pace. Unless these issues are properly addressed there can be no real development in the country. It is time that the sore thumb heals.


(Written October 29, 2008)