War looms

Death and destruction loom. Let that be on the head of Gloria Arroyo for grossly mishandling the negotiations with the MILF.

The SC has not made a ruling on the merits of the petition of North Cotabato officials seeking their province's exclusion from the coverage of the ancestral domain. The case, together with similar petitions by Zamboanga City officials, could conceivably still be resolved in favor of the government. A favorable outcome, however, is sure to be overtaken by events.

The MILF at this point is sure to draw the conclusion that Manila has been negotiating in bad faith. The leadership probably understands the workings of a republican system of government, with its separation of powers among the branches of government. They probably also understand that Gloria has lost the trust of the people. But the dynamics on the ground bar it from being perceived of having sold out the Moro people it claims to represent.

Deep in our bones we feel it will be war. We can only pray it would be brief. We can wish both sides would soon return to the negotiating table. But given the bankruptcy of the Arroyo administration, the best we could hope would be an immediate truce, with the understanding that negotiations on fundamental issues take place only under a new administration.

The proposed agreement on ancestral domain is a good starting point. Except for the provisions allowing the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity to enter into virtual diplomatic relations with foreign countries and to maintain its own armed force, there is nothing fundamentally objectionable to the agreement. Sharing the proceeds of exploitation of natural resources is a matter of pesos and centavos; it should be a non-issue. There is already a similar provision, although not as detailed, in the charter of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

The proposed expansion of the autonomous territory is likewise not fundamentally objectionable. The bone of contention is the 700 or so barangays outside the current four ARMM provinces sought to be included. If the residents want to join the proposed expanded ARMM, by all means let them.

The precedent is again the ARMM. The basic ARMM components are provinces and cities. Previous plebiscites involved these relatively larger political units. There is no reason the choice of membership in ARMM could not be brought down to the level of towns or, in this case, barangays, subject to some reasonable limitations. It would be absurd for the barangay where the Quiapo mosque is located to become part of an expanded ARMM despite the clear majority of Muslims living there.

There is room for give and take. The trouble is even if it is possible to strike a fair and just agreement, Arroyo would not be able to rally the non-Muslims in Mindanao to rally behind a comprehensive peace settlement.

Gloria has brought us hunger. War and devastation are on the horizon. But we refuse to succumb to apocalyptic visions.