Islamic City of Marawi (25 November) -- The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must proceed with the peace negotiation with utmost sincerity and integrity to both sides to come up with a comprehensive peace policy package for the Muslims and all those who will be affected.
Maguid T. Makalingkang, Dean of Mindanao State University (MSU) - Maguindanao Graduate School, said this during the roundtable discussion (RTD) on governance and peace held yesterday at the Marawi Resort Hotel.
He stressed that said policy package should have socio-economic and political components acknowledging the various socio-economic, political and cultural differences of the Filipino people.
He said the conflict in the Bangsamoro homeland requires a comprehensive and simultaneous approach because it involves multi-faceted grievances deeply rooted on history, culture and governance.
The approach must be non-violent recognizing three main issues, such as the subordination of the Qur'an and Hadith of the Prophet of Islam to the Philippine Constitution; Sovereignty of Allah against Sovereignty of the people; and the Separation of the Church and the State, he further said.
In his paper, "Governance for the Bangsamoro: Need for Paradigm Shift," Makalingkang cited that the government have tried'all-out war,''carrot and stick,''assimilation and integration,' and'decentralization through autonomy' to address the conflict but the still the Moro armed struggle continue to exist.
The government, he said, cannot expect to end the problem for as long as it remains using traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.
Another appropriate approach as suggested by him is giving minorities space in the fundamental law through policy reformulation.
The MSU Dean said the Moro aspiration for Islamic system of life and governance particularly in predominantly Muslim areas in Mindanao is a legitimate aspiration to fully secure their identity and way of life.
This aspiration should be accommodated by the Christian Filipino majority and by the Philippine constitutionalism as a way through to lasting and comprehensive peace solution to the Mindanao conflict, he added.
On the other hand, Dean Antonio Gabriel M. La Viña of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) underscored in his paper, "Peace and Governance: What are the Options?," the link between governance and peace.
He said good governance must be a component in the peace agreement between the GRP and MILF.
The peace agreement must deliver good governance as an outcome, he stressed.
The ASoG Dean also highlighted in his presentation the vision for Mindanawon governance as culture-sensitive, self-reliant, responsive and accountable governance with each political unit at various levels able to assert internal self-determination, all of them integrated by a soundly defined relationship of complementariness with each other and with the national government.
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