Peace and Security Review, Vol.1 No. 2 - International Centre for ...

Taharudin Ampatuan Philippines’ Counter Insurgency and Terrorism 65
Philippines context, where repressive state policies and laws have proved
counter-productive.
This realization seems to reflect the approach taken by the government
of President Aquino (1987-1992), which negotiated for peace with the MNLF
and ensured that in the 1987 Philippine Constitution 49 provides for the creation
of the Muslim Mindanao Autonomous region. This was sustained by the
Ramos administration (1992-1998) that concluded a peace deal with the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) with the signing of the GRP-MNLF 1996
peace agreement and the passage of the autonomy law. The administration
of President Arroyo (2004) is currently negotiating with the MILF and has a
successful cessation of hostilities agreement through the help of foreign military
monitoring team led by Malaysia. It has also recently passed an Antiterrorism
law. 50 The Human Security Act (RA 9372) reflects the government
resolve to address the threat of terrorism but also ensures accountability for
law enforcers to avoid excesses in implementing the law.
Even the Philippine Armed Forces have developed a civil-military relations
strategy (Salaam ⎯ Special Advocacy for the livelihood assistance for the
advancement of Muslim). 51 This campaign strategy to win the hearts and minds
of the Muslim population not only establish mechanisms for convergence of
efforts of peace initiatives and development efforts between the security
component of government (Army) and the national development agencies,
but also a face-to-face information operations that encourages the Muslims to
develop and understand Islamic values, distorted by the rebels. This strategy
brought with it the US Army’s humanitarian efforts in Muslim communities.
For most Muslims in Southern Philippines ⎯ psychologically and emotionally
scarred by pervasive violence ⎯ these “healing touches” are either too little
or too late or both.
While there are serious efforts to address the Moro problem at the
strategic level and has had a favourable policy environment, the Philippine
government has mostly failed in implementation of policies and programs.
In the ten years since the implementation of the 1996 peace accord, the
people of the autonomous region are worse off than before. This can be
attributed to the lack of political will from the government. In addition,
corruption and public accountability, economic mismanagement, and peace
and order problem are the major issues related to the failure of governance in
Southern Philippines.
49 Sec 15, Art X, (Autonomous Region) 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
50 Republic Act no. 9372, “Human Security Act of 2007.”
51 Ampatuan, 2002.
Vol.1, No.2 2008 pp.49-76