“Napakamakabuluhan nang mga itinatalakay natin dito, at kulang ang isang forum at isang umagang talakayan para dito. Ngunit magandang simula ang ating talakayan upang magbukas ng mas marami pang pagpapalitang-kuro; at sana, sa hinaharap, ay maisalin ito sa pagkakaisa at pagkilos para sa karapatang-pantao, sa tunay na kapayapaan sa ating bayan.”

Thus said Ms. Ma. Cristina Guevara, secretary-general of Desaparecidos (Families of the Disappeared for Justice), during the “Forging Paths to Peace: Addressing the Roots of Armed Conflicts in the Philippines” online forum, held on June 7, 2023.

Other speakers included Atty. Mohammad Estrella, director of the Ministry of the Social Services and Development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Mr. Mervin Toquero of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), Ms. Amirah Lidasan of the Sandugo Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination.

The first speaker, Ms. Lidasan, gave a talk on the different tribes of the Bangsamoro and of the Lumad and the history of their fight against the oppression of the Spanish and American colonialists, and even of the Philippine government that came right after the colonizers. She also gave clarity on the present-day struggle of the Moro leaders against the current-day alliance between the American government and the administrations of former President Benigno S. Aquino III and the current President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. wherein the United States’ “War on Terror” is seemingly used as a “jump-off point” against Moro and Lumad communities. Further, Ms. Lidasan added that the Aquino III and Duterte administrations used “internal security plans” in collaboration with internationally owned mining corporations in Mindanao to harass the indigenous people, particularly the Lumad. This was furthered by the red tagging of the Duterte (and subsequently the Marcos, Jr.) governments and the declaration of martial law over Mindanao in 2017 which contributed to the displacement of Moro and Lumad communities.

According to Ms. Lidasan, the current peace negotiations of the government with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will no longer suffice in addressing real peace in Mindanao. In addition, she expressed sadness that the concept of transnational justice does not include the Moro and Lumad, as is their right. Therefore, the fight for freedom, peace, and justice of the Mindanao indigenous peoples continues.

In his talk, Atty. Mohammad Estrella provided further elaboration on the struggle of the Moro people. He stated that indigenous people, including himself, treat lands as “an extension of who we are, as an extension of our cultural heritage and identity…a concept of ‘communal ownership.’” Since they do not have the concept of “titling,” (which was introduced by the Spanish conquerors and furthered by the American occupiers), their lands were summarily titled and taken away from them, leaving them displaced. Atty. Estrella quoted UP Diliman Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) dean, Prof. Julkipli M. Wadi, who coined the concept of “multicolonialism,” and argued that the Philippine Republic, which came into full being in 1946, “succeeded the Americans as the ‘colonizer’ of the Bangsamoro territories.” Atty. Estrella expressed hope that with the overwhelming ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” the aspirations of the Bangsamoro will be realized with the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government. However, he opined that “issues from a broken and corrupt political system in the Philippines marred by bureaucratic corruption continue to pose a challenge in [Moro] communities, just like the rest of the Philippines.” He ended his talk with the institutional mechanisms in the BARMM to support the peace process, including the political and normalization tracks, which include legislation, social services, and public order and safety.

The third speaker, Mr. Mervin Toquero, began his talk by introducing PEPP and what they do for Filipino communities, also in relation with the Philippine government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Peace Process. He mentioned a quote by St. Paul VI, “If you want peace, work for justice.” According to Mr. Toquero, there is “unpeace” due to “rampant poverty, while only a handful of the population control the largest chunk of the country’s resources,” and that this handful “run the government in consonance with the wishes of foreign powers which causes detriment to the majority of the people,” eventually leading to armed conflict. He then gave a rundown of the history of peace negotiations, including the disputes, between the GRP and the NDFP. According to Mr. Toquero, “even if the GRP wins militarily, such a national concern that is rooted in socio-economic injustices will breed more dissent and hateful and resentful hearts.” He also opined that “if the poverty, hunger, and suffering of the majority continues, the violence of the past and its manifestations in the present will surface, escalate, or heighten.” Mr. Toquero ended his talk by stating that “peace with justice means people living sustainably in their communities.”

The last speaker, Ms. Ma. Cristina Guevara, talked about “The Plight of Peace Advocates and Human Rights Defenders under the Marcos, Jr. Administration.” She discussed facts and information about the militarized bureaucracy, the “subservience” of the Philippines to major foreign powers such as the US and the People’s Republic of China, violations of civil and political rights, extra-judicial killings, red tagging, enforced disappearances, freedom of expression and assembly, and the right to political dissent. Toward the end, she encouraged the attendees to be human rights defenders.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Jose Mikhail Perez, Political Science Program Head, introduced the concept of “the idea of positive peace.” According to Prof. Perez, genuine peace will come when everyone is included because “it is not only the state that should ensure the security of [the nation], but it has to be a collaborative effort between state and non-state actors in order to achieve genuine accountability.”

The event, as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Department of Social Studies (DSS) – College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), was facilitated by the Political Science 14 – WBD class in partnership with the Sandugo Movement, the PEPP, and the Desaparecidos.

The activity is co-presented by the Office of the U.P. Faculty Regent, All UP Academic Employees Union – Manila Chapter, All U.P. Workers Union-Manila/PGH, Health Action for Human Rights, and the Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy.

I Martin R. Racza