Muslims Gather Million Signatures for Federal Philippines
Abueva told Mindanao leaders a federal Philippines will "accommodate their legitimate interests, end the war in Mindanao, and discourage secessionism."
By Rexcel Sorza, IOL Correspondent
ILOILO CITY, Philippines, August 28, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - A group of Filipino Muslims has launched a campaign to gather at least one million signatures in support of mooted bills to shift the country's system to a federal-parliamentary, believing this will bring lasting peace to Mindanao.
"We thought of gathering one million signatures of our Muslim brothers so that we can show to President [Gloria] Arroyo that we are supporting the proposed change of our Constitution," Farouk Sampao, founder of Muslim Movement for Federal Philippines, told IslamOnline.net.
He believes the shift will "achieve the elusive independence, peace and economic development for the people of Mindanao."
There are an estimated 10 million Filipino Muslims, according to various Muslim NGO groups.
The Philippines currently has a unitary-presidential system, where power and authority are centralized in the president of the republic.
Bills co-authored by several legislators are currently mooted in the Congress to change this into federal-parliamentary.
In her July 25 state of the nation address, President Arroyo expressed support to shift to a federal-parliamentary government admitting that the current system "needs fundamental change."
She added that the provinces' economic progress and social stability along with the increasing self-reliance and efficiency of political developments and public services in these local government units "make a compelling case for federalism."
Peace Hopes
Sampao said although the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was created "for some kind of self-rule" it did not live up to the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for a real, effective self rule.
"The ARMM has failed to achieve the dreams of the Bangsamoro."
Bangsamoro is the name of the area where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been seeking to establish an independent Islamic state since the 1970s.
The term, driven from the Malay word bangsa, meaning nation or people, also refers to the Filipino Muslim people.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. from Mindanao believes that the creation of a Bangsamoro federal state "will render irrelevant and unnecessary the secessionist aspirations and the revolutionary aims of the Moros."
Jose Abueva, a political science professor and leading proponent of federalism, agrees.
He told IOL a federal Philippines "will build a just and enduring framework for peace through unity in our ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity, especially in relation to Bangsamoro and our indigenous peoples."
He said the proposed "Federal Republic of the Philippines" would pave the way for self-rule by the people in the proposed 11 states, including the Bangsamoro State.
This, he believes, will "accommodate their legitimate interests, end the war in Mindanao, and discourage secessionism."
Development
Abueva, a member of Citizens' Movement for a Federal Philippines and the Consultative Constitutional Commission for Charter Change, also believes such a change would serve the country's development.
He explained their campaign focuses on the lack of "good governance" under the existing unitary-presidential system that has contributed to "the aggravation of the people's condition and problems while benefiting the ruling class, elite or oligarchy."
The expert said an improved governance in a federal parliamentary democracy would yield a gradual development of "human and institutional capabilities for good governance."
Abueva went on: "In this way we can achieve a just and enduring peace and accelerate nation-building and development for our people's dignity, security, prosperity and welfare, and to enhance our country's ability to participate in the global economy and community."
He noted that the states will have a "shared rule" with the federal government taking responsibility over national security and defense, foreign relations, currency and monetary policy, citizenship, civil, political and other human rights, immigration and customs.
They shall be responsible for peace and justice, agriculture and fisheries, energy, environment and natural resources, trade, industry and tourism, labor and employment, public works, transportation and communication, health, basic education, science and technology, culture, social welfare and development, and public safety and police.
Controversial
However, not all parties believe that a federal Philippines will spell the end of the conflict in Mindanao.
Eid Kabalu, a MILF spokesman, said they are not taking part in the signature campaign and would not support the federalism campaign.
"Our focus is the negotiations we are having with the Philippine government," he told IOL.
Jailed MNLF founder Nur Misuari is reportedly opposed to federalism.
"If we can craft a good quality of federalism, we can give it a try. But if it is intended to create disunity in Mindanao, I will not support it," he was quoted as saying by a peace worker who recently visited him in jail.
Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga of the Institute for Bangsamoro Studies believes it is better to hold a referendum first for all the people of Mindanao to determine their choice.
Islamonline