Pagpati'ut - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Mediating Violence In Sulu
argument provided by interviewees is – “but it works for us.”
of all well-meaning ‘outsiders’ looking-in). Given that ARMM is still being
molded, should outsiders impose the standards and brand of political
governance as practiced and observed by the national state Or should
valuing system that are best for them And if so, where is the meeting
point 31 Laws and policies are said to be the great equalizer – what is
the best arrangement that is fair and non-preferential, but is context
dependent and historically grounded
‘entitlement.’ The people from one Barangay were reportedly ecstatic
when the Barangay Captain provided the community with a sound system.
Other than that, little has often been provided to the community by the
of the Barangay Captain, and hence, they owe him debt of gratitude if the
Barangay Captain, out of his ‘magnanimity,’ uses his own money to buy
something for the community.
The IRA is in the full control and discretion of the local chief executive, and
the institutional checks if the money goes to the community are very weak,
if not nil. This is the reason why, despite the development support that the
national government and international agencies have poured in ARMM,
very few infrastructures have been done, and very few development
and the political and electoral reform agenda converge. How can the
regional government check the performance of the local chief executives,
most especially in terms of development and infrastructure support What
mechanisms must be instituted to ensure that the IRA goes to the people
(4) There is wide proliferation of arms in Sulu. While having arms is not the
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31 Note that this is also the heart of the ‘autonomy’ agenda of the peace talks