Armed Forces united & published a manifesto AGAINST BBL Bangsamoro - Shocks President Aquino!

Aquino ‘surprised’ by Bangsamoro manifesto

SEVERAL GROUPS of retired military and police servicemen, a number of retired chiefs-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and one retired chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) called for the junking of the peace agreements between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in a published “manifesto” that President Benigno S. C. Aquino III said took him by surprise.

In a “Manifesto of Retired Officers” published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday, the groups urged the Supreme Court to declare as null and void the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), saying these agreements violate the Philippine Constitution.

The 13 groups which signed the call include the following:

* Association of General and Flag Officers

* National ROTC Alumni Association

* Kampilan Peacekeepers Association

* Fraternal Organization of ROTC Reservists and Veterans

* Filipino War Veterans Foundation

* Philippine National Police Retirees Association

* Veteran Generals and Flag Officers Federation

* Cavliers 57

* Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association

* Kapisanan ng Kawal Mindanao

* Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache Association

* Last Watering Hole

* Reform the Armed Forces Movement Foundation

Retired PNP chief Umberto A. Rodriguez also signed the manifesto, together with retired AFP chiefs Efren I. Abu, Dionisio R. Santiago, Generoso S. Sengu and Alexander B. Yano.

Political analyst Ramon C. Casiple said that in the military and police service, retired officials tend to have an influence on their junior officers given the culture and nature of these organizations.

“Within the military and police circles, they are influential in a sense that the active leaders now used to be their junior officers,” Mr. Casiple said in a phone interview Monday afternoon.

“I’m not saying that they can actually command their junior officers but we can say that their influence to them is considerable,” he added.

Mr. Aquino said he was “surprised” by the statement, as he noted several among the signatories used to be part of the security cluster.

“So, I was surprised that their reaction was to that degree and that they have objections,” Mr. Aquino told reporters Monday.

“Maybe what’s good is to have a public dialogue with them... so everyone can see if their position on the matter has sound basis,” he added.

In the manifesto, the groups called for safeguards on the proposed BBL, including provisions stating that the proposed Bangsamoro region is “a constituent part of the Republic of the Philippines.”

Other provisions being pushed in the manifesto include a renouncement of separatism, disarmament of all combatants six months after the agreement’s ratification, and conformity of the proposed Bangsamoro region with the Philippine Constitution. –read more at Business World Online

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Mindanao Revenue is 54% of total Philippine earnings, Federalism the last Option for Peace and Development

Proposed Federal States of the Philippines. Source: Rebuilding for a Better Philippines

• "The unitary system sucks because it boils down to patronage and that the decision-making and sharing of resources are concentrated in Metro Manila," Duterte said
• Federalism is a fall-back position in Mindanao if the Bangsamoro Basic Law fails.
• "It is an option acceptable to Nur Misuari and to the rest of Mindanao that contributes 54 percent of the total Philippine earnings from agricultural exports," Duterte said.
• The current BBL only recognized the MILF -a  Maguindanao tribe leaded revolutionary group and Ignoring the MNLF which is headed by Nur Misuari a Tausug tribe faction, and the original revolutionary group. 
• Tausug and Maguindanao muslim tribes are foes and fighting each other (Rido)

• Tausug and Maranao muslim tribes are not also friends (They are avoiding each other)
• If the Philippines will empower the MILF (Maguindanao) it seems like the government allows the possible massacre of Tausug tribes so there will be no peace at all because Tausug will fights back
• Separating the 2 muslim tribes into 2 different states as BangsaMoro and Sultanate of Sulu or BangsaSug could be the best solution 
• Majority of the Tribes in Mindanao are not Muslim. The largest Subanen tribes with territory Span from Basilan island, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Oriental and Occidental, Lanao del norte (Higaonon -Subanen), Cagayan de oro, Gingoog and Camiguin Island are peaceful non-muslim tribes who never been and never converted into islam from the beginning of the History of Mindanao.
• Second majority tribes which is the Mandaya tribes of Davao provinces, Comval, Agusan and Surigao with its branches such as the the Kamayo tribes, Manobo, B'laan, Mansaka, Tasaday, Mamanwa and other are also non-muslim tribes. The Bukidnon, areas have also other non-muslim tribes which should be given voice like the muslim tribes.
• "It is acceptable to Palawan that was supposed to earn ₱72 billion from the Malampaya oil fields but is getting nothing in return," he said.
• Duterte said , under the current unitary system of government, the destiny of the nation is controlled by politicians who come and go, and most of whom do not even know what to do.

Duterte says federalism only way out of the hump for RP

by Jimmy K. Laking 

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte last week told a gathering of Rotarians in Baguio City that federalism is the only option left for the Philippines to reach the development that Malaysia has been able to attain.

"The unitary system sucks because it boils down to patronage and that the decision-making and sharing of resources are concentrated in Metro Manila," he said.

He said federalism is a fall-back position in Mindanao if the Bangsamoro Basic Law fails.

"It is an option acceptable to Nur Misuari and to the rest of Mindanao that contributes 54 percent of the total Philippine earnings from agricultural exports," he said.

"It is acceptable to Palawan that was supposed to earn P72 billion from the Malampaya oil fields but is getting nothing in return," he said.

He said under the current unitary system of government, the destiny of the nation is controlled by politicians who come and go, and most of whom do not even know what to do.

"The House of Representatives decides money matters and what is left after the money is washed and laundered goes to patronage," he said.

He said he sees high hopes in the BBL to achieve peace in Mindanao.

"But if it fails, there is federalism as a fallback and if the rest of the country will not listen to us, hiwa-hiwalay na lang tayo," he said.

He said the conflict in Mindanao has claimed more than 100,000 lives and the island remains a "troubled land."

He said federalism can give the best and the brightest (of people) opportunities in government to prosper but not in a unitary system where the system is closed.

At the same time, he added the people want change but "it is not a change in people, but actually an institutional change."

He dismissed reports that he was interested in seeking the presidency, saying he no longer had the energy for governance.

"Divine intervention could point to anyone but that it is no longer my time," he said.

He said he had no ambition, only a vision of seeing this country go federal to attain the level of development Malaysia has achieved.

Duterte, 79,  a former assistant city prosecutor, has sat as OIC vice mayor of Davao City and has since been a 22-year mayor after that, in addition to having served for one term as a congressman.

Duterte has embarked on a tour of Philippine cities to espouse federalism as option for all Filipinos "to free themselves from an over-centralized rule presided over by politicians that come and go." with sources from RFABP and - Baguio Midland Courier 

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