The ISIS, NPA, and Federalism
Posted on Saturday, 4 February 2017
The ISIS, NPA, and Federalism
By Apolinario Villalobos
With the rumor that the Mindanao-based
terrorists have been admitted by the ISIS into their fold, there is a need for
all Mindanaoans – Christians, Lumads, and Muslims to close ranks. The common
enemies of the Mindanaoans this time are the ISIS and their local followers who
are viewed as terrorists. There is now a need to forget differences in culture
and Faith. Instead, Mindanaoans should think and act as Filipinos. The Middle
East-based terrorists are no different from the local NPAs whose current
leaders act more like outlaws than defenders of peasants. There are pockets of
areas in Mindanao that are still under this group’s shadow. The rash of
terroristic acts sowed by NPAs clearly shows that they do not have ONE common
leader who calls the shots.
The ISIS converts are blind to the fact
that this group of terrorists that they admire is being disowned by some
Islamic sects. And, for Communism, the ideology is no longer popular even among
the Chinese of mainland China. It is no longer viewed in its pure form, as its
leaders have learned to absorb a bit of democratic advocacies. The Communists
in the Philippines is not even supported by the Communist Party of mainland
China. The local Communists live on the sweat and blood of farmers who are
forced to pay “taxes” which in reality are “tongs”….hence, the act of
extracting “donations” from farmers is actually, “extortion”.
The federal system which has a
“self-governing” characteristic of government is the best that Mindanaoans can
have to effectively fight the ISIS and its local cohorts, as well as, the NPA.
The fervor for self-preservation would be strongly felt by Mindanaoans if they,
themselves, will do the act of protecting themselves with the support only of
the national military. They will be better motivated to fight for the
preservation of their stakes on patches of land which their grandfathers have
driven down the once marshy land. Add to that the historic claim of the Lumads,
the Iranuns, Maguindanoans, and
Maranaos.
Mindanaoans must not allow the
proliferation of terrorism in their midst for the sake of the future
generations. For decades, there had been so much suffering and deprivation.
Mindanao today, is in dire need of a united stand against the evil hands!
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