Wikileaks - USA Support and Lead the MILF Bangsamoro for Treasure interest in Mindanao

Purported secret US Embassy files released by the whistle-blowing WikiLeaks showed that Washington had a direct hand in the ill-fated deal to create a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity in 2008 that critics warned could lead to a dismemberment of the Philippines.

Former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said that this “disturbing pattern” of American intervention in the Philippines was apparently triggered by a letter sent by then Moro rebel chief Hashim Salamat to the US President George W. Bush on Jan. 20, 2003.

Salamat’s letter, coursed through then US Ambassador Frank Riccardione in Manila, sought assistance in hammering out an agreement between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the creation of a Moro homeland.

Ocampo said that that US interest was clearly seen from the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), which was declared by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional in 2008, where the funding for socioeconomic projects in Mindanao would be handed over to the World Bank and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Memorandum MOA-AD Wikileaked

Ocampo said the Arroyo administration’s peace negotiators apparently were not too keen on the US involvement that they leaked the MOA-AD a few days before it was supposed to be signed in Kuala Lumpur in August 2008 in the presence of then US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

The chief Philippine negotiator, General Hermogenes Esperon, apparently gave the document to then North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol because the Arroyo administration felt the United States would be getting too much economic power under the deal, said Ocampo. Piñol later went to the Supreme Court to contest the agreement.

“We are therefore appealing to the basic principle of American fairness and sense of justice to use your good offices in rectifying the error that continues to negate and derogate the Bangsamoro People’s fundamental right to seek decolonization under the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 1514 (XV) of 1960. For this purpose, we are amenable to inviting and giving you the opportunity to assist in resolving this predicament of the Bangsamoro People,” Salamat wrote to Bush.

Ocampo said that it was no coincidence that two years after Salamat’s plea, the United States held its first official meeting with MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim (as detailed in WikiLeaks 07MANILA3676 cable titled: Muslim Insurgent chairman, Malaysian Facilitator) which was held a year after they met with MILF Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jafaar (WikiLeaks 06MANILA1747 cable titled: MILF welcomes regular dialogue with US Embassy). Both documents were classified as secret.

US officials have declined comment on the substance or authenticity of the WikiLeaks papers.

Salamat died in 2003 and was replaced by Murad as MILF chief.

Different political and treasure interest in Mindanao

“Hashim Salamat’s letter for George Bush to intervene led initially to the USIP’s (US Institute for Peace) interest in Mindanao and then the US Embassy’s direct intervention a few years later as exposed in the WikiLeaks reports. We knew that the US was getting involved in the peace process and we told them (MILF) to be careful because the US had a different political interest. Nobody had proof then but the WikiLeaks reports confirmed the US hand,” Ocampo said in a phone interview.

First official meeting

Ocampo said Salamat’s letter set the tone for the peace agreement as a way for the United States to rectify its “sins” when it ceded Bangsamoro land in Mindanao to its then Philippine colony.

Based on the 07MANILA3676 cable classified as secret, “the first ever official US government meeting with the leader of the Muslim insurgent organization engaged in peace talks with the government” was held in November 2007 inside Camp Darapanan, near Cotabato City.

Governments’ resistance

In her report, Kenney stated: “Our direct engagement is clearly welcomed by all parties and can help pull the complex peace process toward concrete progress, possibly including step-by-step eradication of terrorists from Mindanao.”

Murad, who was described as “friendly, confident and well-versed” and spoke excellent English, “suggested during the meeting that the US sign a protocol supporting the peace agreement along with other countries because he feared that Congress would not give its approval to the deal without international support,” Kenney said.

The WikiLeaks documents showed persistent questions on the constitutionality of the MOA-AD and resistance from “conservative forces” in the Arroyo Cabinet and Congress.

Kenney reported that the government peace panel secretariat director, Ryan Sullivan [name sounds American but he’s Filipino], reported that the government and the MILF panels were divided on governance (MILF wanted specific terms while the government wanted it kept in general terms), political status (MILF wanted to use freedom in the Bangsamoro which the government objected to), and  natural resources (MILF wanted to  have a firm hand in the exploitation of its petroleum and natural gas reserves).

“The US apparently believes that it can do what it wants with Mindanao’s natural resources by dealing with the MILF in the Bangsamoro rather than with the national government,” Ocampo said. “The US is eyeing with interest the potential of Mindanao for oil and gas.”

Jurisdiction

“Since both parties have different concepts of the meaning of   ‘ownership,’ this term was excluded from the draft territorial agreement. In place of ‘ownership,’ the MILF wants to use the phrase ‘jurisdiction and control,’ while the Cabinet wants to limit the language in the text to the word “control.” The phrase “jurisdiction and control” implies greater authority and a recognized right to control strategic resources within the territorial boundaries of a new Muslim political entity,” Kenney said.

“By limiting the language to the term “control,” Sullivan said the government would grant authority to the new Moro political entity to  develop and exploit strategic resources, though such  authority could be taken away under certain circumstances, such as a national emergency. The MILF is apparently concerned that the government could use a calamity or other event as a pretext to take over strategic resources indefinitely, according to Sullivan.”

Aside from getting the details of the MOA-AD, the US Embassy was also advised about a “two-tier advocacy and public relations campaign to prepare for the congressional action/plebiscite required after a territorial agreement is signed.”

Complex issues

“To ensure that the parties stay focused and push the process forward, Mission officials continue to engage the parties at the most senior levels … making clear that the US  strongly supports a peace agreement that will help bring  prosperity to Mindanao and remove safe havens for terrorists,” the report said.

In her commentary, Kenney said: “The slow, sometimes halting negotiation process reflects the complexity of the issues with which the parties are grappling, as well as the complex politics surrounding them. Our contacts continue to report that government and MILF negotiators are working diligently to craft a territorial agreement that not only meets with Cabinet and MILF approval, but passes constitutional muster.

“We continue to press both sides to come to agreement soon on the significant set of governance, territory, and natural resource issues currently under negotiation. Such an agreement would be a significant milestone and open the field for advocacy and increased attention to security issues in the next stage of negotiations.”

Filipino Mind is under the heart

Even USA or any other country allies could not manipulate the Filipino minds as Filipinos is the most diverse people in the world with races are mixed from Malayan, Indonesian, East Asian, European, Chinese, American and Latin. It’s a Filipino Instinct to be wise and observant. It is also in Filipino culture that the brain is lower than the heart.

The law in the Philippines is already written and law practitioner even sometimes unfair but the love of the country will always persist even in front of tons of diamonds the conscience will always remind that betrayal to the Philippines is the final end of happiness. Who could afford to gain wealth but to lose his citizenship as Filipino and to lose his family?

The history has been written, the whistle blower leaks; now the Philippines must have to know and think who would be his trustworthy friend? How to trust allies, how to put limit, to be a bit reserve and how to use the mind.

No to “Obey first before you complain”.

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The Philippines ranks-up 14 places in macroeconomics to 54th in the World Economic Forum-2011

(WEF) 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness Report on the back of significant gains in macroeconomic environment of the Philippines which is moving more positive which the country up 14 places to 54^th  for its lower public deficit and debt, and I improve country credit rating, and inflation that remains under control.

According to the Geneva-based WEF, “the Philippines posts one of the largest improvements in this year’s rankings. The vast majority of individual indicators composing the GCI (Global Competitiveness Index) improved, sometimes markedly.”

The 10-place jump was the highest for the Philippines since it entered the survey in 1994 and was also among the highest jumps among the 142 economies surveyed from March to April.

Local WEF partner Makati Business Club said the country’s strong performance could be attributed to its improved scores in nine of the 12 “pillars” or major categories included in the GCI.

The country went up 14 places in the macroeconomic environment category, 12 places in technological readiness, nine places in goods market efficiency, eight places in institutions, four places in financial market development, three places in both business sophistication and innovation, two places in higher education and training, and one place in market size.

National Competitiveness Council co-chair Guillermo Luz said the country’s strongest suit for this survey was macroeconomic management, which led to three credit-rating upgrades, as well as improvements in the debt situation, interest rate spreads and inflation.

“We should see improvements forthcoming. The survey allows us to see our challenges and our strong suits. That 10-point jump, we’re happy with it. It’s already a big achievement,” he said, adding that this year’s result represented a reversal of a four-year downtrend.

While optimistic about the future, he said there were challenges.

The country was still located in the bottom part of the rankings in the area of infrastructure, with the Philippines having among the lowest scores in quality of roads, ports, railroads, airports and electricity supply.

The country also had to address security issues as the perception of security risks to businesses had worsened and the “business costs of crime and violence” had gone up. The reliability of police services also plunged.

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Return the Coco Levy Fund to save the dying coconut of the Philippines – and so Order!

Written by Denis Somoso for the "All Voices" and "Rebuilding for the Better Philippines".

The doom's day of the Philippines' Coconut Industry?

Millions of Philippine coconut farmers crying for Justice of the Coco Levy Fund Scam which worth ₱150 BILLION pesos still elusive as the former administrations remain hesitant to help the poor coconut farmers of the country.

The justice of the Philippines still favors to the rich and keep rejecting the poor.

Last April 2011, the Supreme Court affirmed a 2007 decision of the Sandiganbayan and declared that another block of shares in San Miguel Corporation held by Cojuangco, which coconut farmers claimed were also bought using the coco levy fund, was the "exclusive property" of Cojuangco, a known Marcos crony and uncle of President Aquino.

The High Tribunal in its final decision also dismissed the motion for consideration filed by coconut reform activists and the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

The Coco Levy Fund Scam was a controversy in the 1970s and 80's in the Philippines involving the former President Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies. It is alleged that Marcos, Danding Cojuangco, Juan Ponce Enrile, and others conspired to tax coconut farmers, promising them the development of the coconut industry and a share of the investments, but on the contrary were used for personal profit particularly in the purchase of United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) and majority stake in San Miguel Corporation (SMC), to name a few.

The issue has not died today, with coconut farmers fighting for justice against the forced taxation, and a share of the Coco Levy Funds' investments. The Coco Levy Fund is estimated to have ballooned anywhere in the range of ₱100-150 billion in assets.  Face a growing crisis in their livelihoods, as their trees become too old to produce the fruit that is a mainstay of the country's exports.

More than 44 million coconut trees 14 percent of the national total are past their most fertile age, and without a sufficient replanting program the industry could be in trouble.

Euclides Forbes, administrator of the official Philippine Coconut Authority said the government does not have enough money to support the industry, on which 25 percent of the population depends, and private planters are not doing enough.

The victims of the Coco Levy Fund Scam is calling the Aquino Government to act fast to save the industry. If the Government don't have fund for this valuable Agricultural Industry of the Philippines then Aquino must support for the recovery of the Coco Levy Fund which is control by his uncle Dangding Cojuanco.

In the time line records, the previous Corazon Aquino Administration did not do anything to solve the scam. The Ramos Administration no comment, Estrada Administration don't know anything, Noy-noy Aquino Administration.. Might save the people? If he will not favor to his uncle!

Coco Farmer's Frustrations and farm conversion

During my last visit in Visayas and Mindanao, I met many coco farmers sharing their sentiments.  Some of them still hold the ticket of their coco levy share but some of them burnt it from anger. "The Government didn't hear us anymore" coco farmers' said. The poor don't have chance anymore to voice out. None of the President solves the scam.

Many of the frustrated farmers stop replanting and some other just cut the coconut trees for lumber and replace with rubber or make the land idle to neutralize the acidic land from using fertilizers for so many years. Many converted the land into a corn or rice field.

Another reason of their complain is the price which is too low when the sell the copra but when they will buy coconut oil, the price is too high and doubled.

Coco product continues declining – August 2011 Data Show

"If the trees are not replaced, the fall in our coconut production will accelerate. In three to five years, we will not be able to meet export demand".

Coconut products like dried coconut meat and coconut oil are the Philippines' largest agricultural exports, earning $1.508 billion dollars for the country last year, official figures show.

Coconut Authority figures show production in 2011 is expected to hit only 2.57 million tons, down more than 13 percent on 2010 while coconut oil exports will amount to only 1.5 billion tons, down 30 percent on the year earlier.

Forbes did not say how much the ageing coconut trees had cost the country but said the decline in production and exports this year could be traced directly to the old trees.

He warned the shortfall could force consumers to switch to alternatives like palm oil.

The Philippines has three million coconut farmers, but 25 million Filipinos -- more than one in four people -- are dependent on the industry, he said.

Coconut trees are considered mature when they are seven to 25 years old and typically bear 40-65 fruit per year, Forbes said.

He said many of the ageing trees are more than 60 years old and produce only 10 fruit a year and sometimes none at all, making them "senile".

The government is to spend 220 million pesos ($5.2 million) planting new trees next year, but this represents less than 10 percent of the old trees, Forbes warned.

Coconut oil shipments drop by more than half in August

Philippines' coconut oil exports dropped 57.8% annually in August due to lower copra supply, preliminary data an industry group.

United Coconut Associations of the Philippines, Inc. (UCAP) Executive Director Yvonne V. Agustin said that coconut oil exports for the month of August totaled just 54,199 metric tons (MT), down from the 128,507 MT recorded in the same month last year.

She said that in the eight months to August, volume of these shipments fell 43.6% to 561,725 MT from 996,618 MT the previous year.

She attributed the continued decline of coconut oil exports to lower production of copra- the dried meat of coconut from which oil is extracted.

Despite the continued drop of coconut oil exports, she said the UCAP is keeping its projection for exports this year of 900,000 MT, less than the 1.33 million MT actually recorded last year.

According to the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP), coconut oil exports, one of the Philippines' major dollar earners, dropped by almost half in the first eight months of the year, as copra supply continued to tighten, industry group said.

UCAP executive director Yvonne Agustin said that preliminary estimates indicated that coconut oil exports fell by 43.6 percent to 561,725 metric tons in the first eight months of 2011 from 996,618 tons in the same period last year.

In August alone, CNO [coconut oil] exports reached 54,199 tons, down by 57.8 percent from the 128,507 tons reported a year ago. Month on month, the August figure was also lower than the July 2011 level of 77,738 tons.

UCAP noted that dried coconut meat, or copra, the raw material in making CNO, tightened after three years of good production that stressed the coconut trees.

The industry group expects coconut oil exports to reach 900,000 tons this year, lower by almost a third from last year's 1.32 million tons.

Earlier, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Euclides Forbes said the Philippines would have a hard time meeting its CNO export targets for 2011 despite the strong world market prices of the commodity.

The Philippines, which ships out about 80 percent of its production, is the world's top CNO exporter.

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