MILF, BIFF Are Not The Only People in Mindanao

It is outrageous for people who pretend to be advocates of peace that it is against peace for government to go after the terrorists who murdered the SAF 44 and wounded more than a dozen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

These people have a distorted sense of justice. Let it be clarified, that majority of the sensible Filipinos are not asking for the mass slaughter of all those who embrace Islam but only for the arrest and prosecution of those who murdered our SAF troopers. The President upon his assumption of office is duty bound to make the following oath:

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as President of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God.” (Section 5, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)

The Revised Penal Code (older than all of us here alive, it was enacted in 1932) punishes the killing of another person, either by the crime of Homicide or Murder. The fact that our law enforcers died and did not commit suicide, there must be people who must answer for the crime.

It is insane for the President and his blind followers not to address a basic duty of a President, and that is to EXECUTE THE LAWS. Our law punishes murder, how come our President refuses to utter these words and let the criminal justice roll?

The MILF/BIFF and all other lawless groups are not the only people of Mindanao. In fact, Maguindanao of which Mamasapano is a municipality is only part of the six provinces that composes the ARMM. Another fact is that the rest of the provinces and its people do not embrace the same ideology or stupidity as that of the separatist movement are espousing.

Lanao del Sur, of which Marawi City is the capital, does not share the armed movement, they are for peace. Basilan (its Capital, Isabela City is not part of the ARMM as it opposed its inclusion and is now part of Region IX or the Zamboanga Peninsula), so as Sulu, Tawi and Sharif Kabunsuan.

The so called stronghold of this terror groups are based in Maguindanao, but why the rest of the people of Mindanao have to suffer the stupidity of these separatist groups?

They demand for independence through the so called autonomy, then why do they have to use arms? That is the way of the past, the brute force of barbarism, but the Philippines is a civilized and democratic country where anyone and everyone has the right to express his criticism and idealism through peaceful means but the Constitution does not give the right to bear arms for it is rebellion or sedition.

It is, however, legally incorrect for us to call these bandits as terrorists. Why? Because President Aquino so as former President Arroyo up to now failed to do its job. Under the “The Human Security Act of 2007 or Republic Act 9372, the Department of Justice is duty bound to file before a Regional Trial Court for judicial declaration of these organizations as TERRORIST and OUTLAW ORGANIZATION.

This is mandated under Section 17 of Republic Act. I wrote the book, The Human Security Act of 2007 with the sub title, Manual for the Defenders of Humanity published in 2008 by Central Book Supply Inc.

The legal process of declaring these bandits as terrorist groups is called as PROSCRIPTION OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS OR GROUP OF PERSONS.

PNOY has failed to do its job yet it is beyond contest that these groups are terrorists for under the law, TERRORISM is when a crime under the Revised Penal Code or a Special Penal Law is committed with the aim of sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace.

With that definition, MILF/BIFF are terrorists, then how come PNOY is giving aid and comfort to them? What is worse is that PNOY seems to love them more than our law enforcers.

The Nation is being held hostage by the so called PEACE PROCESS embraced by PNOY, with the novel ambition of besting the coveted NOBEL prize, this at the expense of the safety and security of all of Mindanao. PNOY is duty bound to execute our laws and give justice to every man, why cannot he give justice to our FALLEN 44?

Is the passage of the BBL more sacred than the lives of our law enforcers?

Is PNOY suffering from amnesia or extreme ignorance that he forgets that Mindanao is composed of 6 regions? Why cannot he think of the welfare of his constituents, our fellow brothers and sisters in the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Northern Mindanao (Region X), Davao Region (Region XI), SOCCKSARGEN (Region XII) and CARAGA
(Region XIII).

It is beyond contest that the Muslims in these regions do not embrace armed struggle or wishes to be independent, they see themselves as Filipinos and not just Muslims. Why is our President giving in to the tantrums of these terrorists?

Justice is going after the criminals not a racial vendetta, it is making a person not a race or religious group to answer for a crime. Is this so hard for PNOY to understand the essence of justice?

He should always remember that the MILF/BIFF are not the only people of Mindanao and letting them answer for their crime is his duty under the law and his oath and the rest of the Peace Loving People of Mindanao. He should not forget that Mindanao is the promise land and now the home of Boholanos, Cebuanos, Waray, Ilongos, Ilocanos, Bicolanos, Leytenos and to all Filipinos.

PNOY should not be afraid of these terrorist groups, their only means of communication is through arms, but the majority of the people of Mindanao are the ones that made him President and continue to make him one, and they too have the power to undo what they have done, that is not to make him President anymore through lawful means enshrined under the Constitution.

The President must listen to his people and fight the terrorists, not fight his people and listen to the terrorists. He must protect his people from the terrorists, not protect the terrorist from his people.

About the Author: Clarence Paul V. Oaminal is a lawyer and author of ‘The Textbook on The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’. He is the Vice-chairman and Undersecretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board and is the current adviser and presiding officer of Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. He also hosts the local advocacy program ‘Krimen ug Drugas’ in CCTN Channel 47.