Last week the nation was jubilant, especially the Filipinos in Mindanao, at the prospect of resolving with finality the Muslim conflict in Mindanao after representatives of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the peace agreement and the corresponding annexes. The more than 40 years civil strife has claimed more than 25,000 lives from both government soldiers, Muslim fighters and civilians for the last four (4) decades. Having grown up in Mindanao, particularly Cotabato and not only saw but experience how violence could decimate families and communities, I am particularly emotional about the agreement. Finally the most elusive peace can now be had by Mindanaonons. But has the conflict really ended in Mindanao with the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the many annexes? GPH representative Prof. Mirim Coronel-Ferrer, Chair of GPH Panel, and MILG representative MohagherIqbal, Chair of the MILF Panel together with witness Malaysian Facilitator Tengku Dato ‘AbGhafar Tengku Mohamed and the many Muslims that converged in Quiapo, Manila and in the regional centers of regions 9 and 11 and President Aquino though so. Everyone hopes so, too. Although some friends in Cotabato whom I asked said that the “ordinary Juan is more concerned that at least something has resulted from the long-drawn negotiation although the well-informed sector still entertain doubts whether this will really be it.”

For those who have lived in the conflict-stricken part of Mindanao like Cotabato, Lanao, Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu from 1969 up to the 80s will understand why many residents there would still entertain doubts after the signing of the peace agreement. Their violent experiences have left graphic memories of blood and death even after resolutions of the conflict have been announced by government. The negotiation of the conflict with the MIM and the MNLF both resulted to signing of peace agreements. But the peace after that was short-lived. Their doubts can also come from the fact that while the FAB and the different annexes have been signed, their implementation remain to be done yet not only in the coming months but it could take years. In fact the Basic Law on the Bangsamoro is yet to be crafted by the Transition Commission (TC) to be created by the President. The law then cannot be expected to be acted by Congress and implemented until 2016. From my own computation the basic law can only take effect after 2016. Consider this. President Aquino will still have to constitute the 15-member Transition Commission (TC) who will all be Bangsamoro which could take some time. Only then can the TC sit down to craft the Basic Law on Bangsamoro which will necessarily amend the Constitution in order to entrench in it the agreements of the GPH and MILF panels.

It is also clear in the provision of the FAB – Part V Item 1, that all areas enumerated shall undergo plebiscite to determine the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro. This will not be a fast and easy task to accomplish. Then again there is the Annex on Normalization that will entail long processes and procedures. Under this agreement, the President will need to create a Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) that will supervise the implementation of the normalization agreement. By normalization, it means a “process whereby communities can achieve the desired quality of life that will include the pursuit of sustainable livelihood and political participation within a peaceful deliberative body.” It should therefore ensure human security and build a society that is committed to basic human rights where people are free from fear of violence or crime and where long held traditions and values are honored. This is easier said than done. Under the agreement this will require the establishment of an Independent Commission on Policing (ICP) and the creation of a Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), a Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and a Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) composed of the AFP, PNP, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

On top of that there is a need to establish an Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) composed of three (3) foreign experts from three foreign states, four (4) local experts that will be jointly nominated by GPH and the MILF Panels. Its task will be to inventory all the MILF fighters and their arms, develop and implement a decommissioning schedule, and make use of techniques and technologies for weapons collection. Those in Mindanao knows that Muslim fighters treasure their guns more than their wives. No redeployment of the AFP can take place until after a joint assessment can be made and they can retain only installations necessary for national defense and security. And then there is the task of demining or detection of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and the disbanding of private armed groups. Will the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatos willingly allow the disbandment of their private armies? That remains to be seen because that will also reflect on how much support they really have for the peace agreement.

At least though, now the AFP will have joint task forces to supervise the MILF camps like the Camp Abubakar in Sidique, Camp Omar in al-Khattab, Camp Badre all in Maguindanao; Camp Rajamuda in North Cotabato; and Camps Busrah Somiorong and Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte and Sur. We have only discussed two (2) annexes. There are still the Annexes on Power Sharing, Revenue Generation and Foreign Affairs. Now are these agreements easily attainable? Rehabilitating Bohol from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and Eastern Visayas from the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda will be a lot easier and faster than implementing the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB). The signing of the peace agreement documents does not terminate the peace negotiation until all its provisions have been fully implemented as determined by the panels of both parties.