My Opinion on the MILF-GRPH Negotiations

QUESTION: Sir John, what is your opinion about the planned Peace Talk between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)?

ANSWER: I will answer this in my personal analysis on the possible impact if GRPH will negotiate with the MILF.

First, let me give you a background about what MILF is. The MILF was originally called "New MNLF" and later became MILF. So basically, MILF is a faction of and is "Former MNLF".

MILF is a product of a black operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that intended to divide and conquer MNLF. Everyone knows that MILF was created by and is being used by the GRPH to divide the good MNLF of Nur Misuari, smudge dirt on Islam while they flaunt their slogan of Independent Islamic State which scares everyone.

MILF is a copycat of the MNLF. The MILF's original name was New MNLF, then changed its name to MILF that sounds like MNLF, it's flag design is almost same as the MNLF, and in 2001 it also has its own version of Tripoli Agreement that the MNLF had in 1976. MILF is used by two right wing dictators -- Marcos and Arroyo in terrorizing and burning entire towns. PNoy knows the history of the MILF. The MNLF will aggressively spread this truth until everyone knows it especially the young generations.

The MILF-GRPH Peace Talk is an unnecessary expense of public fund because it is similar to saying the GRPH is negotiating with an organization that is a secret subsidiary company of the AFP.

If the MILF will have their own version of negotiations with the GRPH, Mindanao will be divided between MNLF and MILF. The faction may be advantageous to some interested groups who benefit from war such as the AFP, but this is not good on the PEACE objective.


The 1976 MNLF-GRPH Tripoli Agreement has granted Autonomy of ARMM to MNLF alone. The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) only recognizes the MNLF as an observer member in the OIC and Nur Misuari as a representative of the Bangsamoro People. When you insert someone else in the picture, such as the MILF or someone else other than Nur Misuari, it will just complicate and smudge the entire picture of peace.

To further their mimicry on the MNLF, the MILF and GRPH also managed to have a lovers' bonding in Tripoli Libya to stage-play their own version of a Tripoli Agreement in 2001 during Arroyo Administration. Among all places on earth, they choose Tripoli. The result of that was an ARMM during the Arroyo period that was so full of waste and fraud. I don't think it is good if the Aquino should resume the corruption and irregularity.

If the MILF-GRPH Negotiations will push through, the GRPH will basically be giving out signal that it rewards and encourages factionalism in MNLF. Well, creating and reinforcing the faction in the MNLF may be strategically advantageous to the war-income operators of the GRPH, but is is not good for PEACE. We don't know how many factions of MNLF the GRPH will talk to. Each time there is a faction, GRPH will open a new negotiation with the new group. Negotiating the MILF means "empowering" the MILF. We don't know when it will end.

There is no need to have a new separate Peace Agreement between the GRPH and MILF because in any manner, the members of MILF will enjoy the fruits and benefits of progress of the MNLF-GRPH Final Peace Agreement of 1996.

It is much better if GRPH will help in the effort integrating the MILF back to MNLF. We already have a milestone for this because the MILF already abandoned their call for Independent Islamic State and many MILF leaders has already expressed willingness to be reunited with MNLF. The GRPH would be helping towards the direction of PEACE if it will show goodwill to the MNLF if it will "undo" the error of creating the MILF during the time of Marcos. Of course, we cannot dictate upon the Aquino Administration.


I am a broker, I negotiate big deals, exclusively in behalf of buyers. In case the seller of a specific land is composed of many family members, the complexity has to be first reduced down to a simple one-on-one negotiation. To simplify the complicated, any seasoned broker would require the seller-side to talk among themselves and come up with an extrajudicial agreement that they be represented by only one person among them. One representative on the side seller will talk to one representative on the buyer side. In a one-on-one negotiation, it is very easy to come up with an agreement.

Brokering a Mindanao negotiation is simple case because it is only a one-on-one negotiation between two parties -- that is the GRPH on one side and MNLF on the other side. It is simple because it is not a multi-party negotiation and there is only one object they are negotiating about. One of the most important rule is there should be no new third party that anyone will suddenly bring into the table while in the middle of negotiation, meaning the MNLF should not be talking to anyone else except the GRPH and vice versa. When you start talking so someone else, that is blatant treachery. If you do that thing in negotiating a deal in the crime organization setting, in many instances the mistrust it creates would ignite an instantaneous bloody shootout -- not good for PEACE. If the GRPH will bring in another party in the negotiating table, then it is no more simple, it becomes complicated.

If the GRPH starts talking to some factions of MNLF, then I think I should make a strong recommendation to the MNLF that we should also start talking with other groups who are opposition to the Aquino Administration, or perhaps another neighboring nation like Malaysia. Is this what the Aquino Administration wants to happen? We don't care to know. However, we are very certain that the residues of the Arroyo Administration who are still occupying seats in the Aquino Administration right now are the ones pushing through with this MILF-GRPH deal. The MILF-GRPH deal is not good for the Aquino Administration, it is not good for the MNLF, it is not good for MILF, it is not good for the civilians, it is not good for Mindanao, it is not good for the PEACE objective. The MILF-GRPH is only good for the right wingers, dealers of killing machines, and cronies of the former dictators who are always there in the shadows controlling some factions in the AFP.


QUESTION: What is the impact of the MILF-GRPH Negotiation?

ANSWER: First, there will be a growing mistrust in the ranks of the MNLF against the GRPH, of course war will inevitably follow.

We can also expect complication in the MNLF-GRPH ongoing negotiation for the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund (BDAF).

The MNLF-GRPH Tripoli Agreement of 1976 and MNLF-GRPH Final Peace Agreement of 1996 is an agreement between GRPH and Nur Misuari of MNLF on a specific Bangsamoro Land territory. The Bangsamoro Land will only be represented by MNLF and MNLF only has one leader named Nur Misuari who is the signatory of the MNLF. Only Nur Misuari can use the Tripoli Agreement ofn 1976 and the FPA of 1996, no one else.

If the GRPH will start talking about the same specific territory with any other group, whether that is a splinter group from MNLF or not, the MNLF would consider it that the GRPH is negotiating to share only its own share.

Example, assuming the agreed sharing of Minerals is 30% to National GRPH and 70% to MNLF. If the GRPH will unilaterally decide to negotiate with other group such as MILF, then the MILF-GRPH will only be talking about how they will split the 30% share of the GRPH. Whether the MILF-GRPH negotiation will succeed or not, the 70% of the MNLF will remain intact with the MNLF, including all powers of MNLF Autonomy will remain intact with the MNLF. The MNLF will not share anything to anyone or any group outside its control, supervision, and accountability.

The best option for MILF is to dissolve its organization and come back to the MNLF. The MILF needed not follow the warpath footsteps of the MNLF in order to get itself its own version of the Tripoli Agreement that the MNLF got in 1976.

The MNLF welcomes the MILF. Commander Umbrakato, one of the strongest leaders of the MILF, has already returned to the MNLF along with the freedom fighters he command. There is plenty of room for everyone in MNLF. There are seven executive positions in each of the 100 private companies that will be formed by the Bangsamoro Corporation of the MNLF. The MNLF needs 700 top executives to run the private companies that will be created to implement the BDAF -- and these positions are open to all including the MILF.

The true Bangsamoro in the MILF and MNLF has a common enemy -- and that is the GRPH.

The key to unity is that the MILF has to voluntarily come back to Nur Misuari of MNLF without asking any concession -- they will be surprised that Nur will give them exciting positions in the new set-up in the MNLF. It is much beneficial for MILF if they will come back to MNLF and rally their cause within the MNLF framework instead of replicating the footsteps of the MNLF-GRPH Deal.

As a warning for the MILF, you should consider that this action of the GRPH is an act of treachery to the MNLF-GRPH Deal. If GRPH can be deliberately treacherous to MNLF, then they can also do the same thing to the MILF.


The MILF separated from MNLF on a primary pretense that it did not agree to the move of the MNLF to negotiate with the GRPH. The secondary pretense was difference in ideology because MNLF wants an "Egalitarian" Bangsamoro Government while MILF said they want "Independent Islamic State". But recently, MILF has changed a lot. I heard that the MILF already dropped their insistence of an Independent Islamic State and they are now wanting to negotiate with GRPH.

If the MILF dropped their pretenses, I think it is more advantageous for the MILF to just come back to the MNLF instead of talking to the GRPH.

On Umbudsman Gutierrez' Acceptance of General Garcia's Plea Bargain

Tama ang ginawa ni Umbudsman Mercedita Guttierez na tanggapin ang plea bargain ni Gen. Garcia dahil narecover ng gobyerno ang mga ninakaw. Kung sinentensyahan niya yun, ma-uwi lang sa kamay ng Presidente ang ibabayad ni Garcia sa ilalim ng lamesa para maka-kuha ng executive clemency. Yan ang dahilan bakit ayaw ko ng Truth Commission, dahil ayoko na ma--manipulate si PNoy ng mga kaibigan nyang umaasang maka-kotong ng malalaking magnanakaw.

Napakaraming departamento under ng jurisdiction ng Office of the President na kailangan niyang ayusin. Tumakbo si PNoy bilang Presidente, ayusin niya ang sarili niyang bakuran sa Executive Branch. Hangga't hindi niya na-aayos ang Executive Branch, wala siyang karapatan na mangabilang-bakod sa problema ng ibang branches of government. Focus lang dapat siya sa trabaho niya.

Ang red-tape sa Executive Branch ay napaka-garapal pa rin. Ako mismo merong kasalukuyan na personal na experience ng red-tape sa Professional Regulation Commission na hindi na-reresolve ng grupo ni PNoy sa napakahabang panahon na hawak nila ang kaso.

So, PNoys, focus ka lang muna sa bakuran mo. Ayusin mo yan dahil yan ang trabaho mo kapalit nung cheke ng sahod mo na pinakita mo noong araw na bago ka pa lang.

Sa ibang ma-uunlad na bansa, mabilis ang kaso dahil merong plea bargaining. Sa plea bargaining, isa o dalawang upu-an tapos ang usapan, settled at nabayaran ang na-aagrabyado, govyerno man o ordinaryong taong bayan. Sa Pilipinas, kaya paton...g-patong na ang kaso dahil pinupursige na ikulong ang akusado, kaya lumalaban ng husto ang depensa, pero sa huli kahit makulong eh mababayaran din ang kalayaan.

Plea Bargaining is the thing that makes the rich countries rich. Mabilis ang kaso, bayad agad ang na-agrabyado, isang upuan lang.

xxxxx

Hanggang tino-tolerate ang Jueteng, our country is cursed. Hindi na mababawi ang curse na binitawan ni Erap nung siya ay kinulong sa Jueteng na gusto niyang gawing legal para mapakinabangan ng taong bayan katulad ng PagCor.

Ako bihirang nagiging relihiyoso, pero pag Presidente ang nag-bitiw ng curse sa sarili niyang bayan, eto ay mangyayari.

Nandyan pa ang Jueteng kay GMA. Nandyan pa rin kay PNoy. Hindi eto titigil ang pag-bulusok ng curruption ng bansa natin.

Rural Poor not Reached by CCTP

We all know that the REAL poor are in rural areas, they do not have bank accounts, and their little children help work. Why is DSWD lazy in reaching out to these REAL poor people? Why is the Aquino Administration's Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCTP) deliberately using the criteria that the beneficiary MUST have a bank account and schooling children? It appears that his CCTP is not intended to be benefited by the REAL poor.

xxxxx

Let me tell you how oligarch leaders steal money from the government. The circle of friends of oligarchs are big utility companies selling electricity, telecommunication, real estate, airlines, petroleum. These companies increase prices at the highest possbile profiteering level. When the noisy poor people complain, oligarch leaders gives away conditional cash transfer program (CCTP) to "soften" the volume of noise.

Bahala na si "companies" magbigay kay ologarch, walang government audit trace eto, kaya walang makaka-alam.

You can find many articles in the internet showing these companies contributed to the campaign fund of the oligarch.

xxxxx

The real poor are the silent ones in the rural areas. When CCTP is not targetted to the silent rural poor, it means it is only intended to "soften" the volume of noise of people who could probably turn out to make a noise.

xxxxx

Competent or Not right now, we will protect his stay and ensure he finishes his term. So, everyone must help in guiding his administration to the right path. We the people can see what's going on around, we tell PNoy about what we see, we tell him what we want, and we hammer him to do it fast.

xxxxx

The Philippines is now a smorgasbord of corruption scandals. EAT ALL YOU CAN! We are already satiated. The next thing to expect is when glutony will burst stomachs of crocodiles. I was first to use the term CULTURE OF CORRUPTION in Philippines, and you can feel now right through your bones. The next term to watch out is COLLAPSE OF THE PHILIPPINE SYSTEM.

Crucifiction

I am very interested to advocate the removal those TORTURE-DEPICTING images of Jesus Christ that we see around. It just subconsciously make people tolerant to human suffering. It just pollutes the mind of the children. Parental Guidance is a must.

xxxxx

If you suffer poverty, if your loved ones are murdered, just go to church, pray, look at the image of suffering Christ, you will probably be rewarded in the afterlife with an honor of a saint.

On Female Clitoris Mutilation

QUESTION: Sir John, what is your position on female clitoris mutilation?

ANSWER: I am against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) but with reservation. There are exempting circumstances. If she had it mulitated out of her own free-will, then there is no issue. If it is part of a traditional practice that is unique to an Ethnic Indigenous People and they practice it exclusively among their own people, then there is no problem.

xxxxx

There are even more gross and cruel things that people do to people such as decapitation, embowelment, crucifiction (oh boy you see images of this all over the place), bone growth restriction, and even skin whitening.

xxxxx

The bottomline is, just mind your own clit, you know. If someone grabs you and tries to cut it, then tell me so I can help you. But if you join some vodoos and have your clit cut or pierced in your own free will for some reason, then why the hell should we care?

xxxxx

We should only react in a large scale advocacy when it becomes a discrimination issue, for example when we begin to see Ads that says: "RICH BACHELOR LOOKING FOR A WIFE. MUST BE FGM-CERTIFIED"

xxxxx

We have nothing to do with it if it is their culture that inflicts it upon their own people. We respect their culture. If they don't like their culture, then thay leave and go somewhere else.

If you want to help, then advocate that society should provide a sanctuary where cultural refugees can get protection. But this sanctuary must welcome all sorts of cultural refugees. You don't have to aggressively encroach, scandalize, and tell them that their cultural practive is barbaric.

If you attack an indigenous people's culture, that is DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ETHNIC ORIGIN. Exhortationism have limitations too.

xxxxx

SIDE COMMENT: "RESPECT the head.hunting cultures. pwede na john?"

RESPONSE: Yan ang mahirap kung gagamit ka ng "extremization" tactics sa debate. Unfair yan na tinutulak mo ako to an extreme na hindi ko naman position na ibalik ang barbaric cultures. Wala akong sinasabi na i-cultivate at suportahan yang barbaric practices. Ang sinasabi ko, huwag natin pakialaman ang HINDI ATIN. Indigenous culture NILA yan, hindi yan ATIN.

We should not act like a superior race that IMPOSE upon the ideals of right and wrong to someone else's culture.

Yes! respect the Head-Hunting culture if that is indigenous to a certain group of people with a unique ethnic origin and specific territory. When I say "culture", the persons involved are WILLING PARTICIPANTS. If the participant says, "I volunteer that my head will be hunted, and you will be the head-hunters" -- then we have no problem.

However, if a certain group of people have indigenous culture of Head Hunting and they will go to the towns at night to head-hunt people's head, then we have a problem because it is against the will of the person whose head ended up on the plate.

To avoid extremization, let's just focus on the CLIT. Two exemption (1) FREE WILL, and (2) CULTURE. Take not of the word "AND" in between those two exemptions.

xxxxx


Religious, cultural, and racial discrimination is BAD because it provokes armed conflict that may result to war and genocide. So, be prudent not to cross the line.

We can't allow killing of people just because of those CLITS!

Petition against FGM is okay if you will condemn any act of war that is based on this petition.

When I say that advocacy and exhortationism have limitations too. Now you see CLIT ADVOCATES, the following day you see an entire indigenous people massacred. Who benefits from that?

Creating sanctuaries is the reason why we, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is gearing will all our might towards the creation of sanctuary settlements called the New Bangsamoro Townships (NBT). Look it up in google.

xxxxx

DEAR SOMEONE: The issue of Female Genital Circumcision is a women's rights and poverty issue. It is not a religion issue. This issue is often abused to discriminate Muslims. See this video that shows Christians also practice it. The Terror of the Female Circumcision in Christianity at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fUlsMafFjM

Lie Detector Test for Whistleblowers

QUESTION: Sir John, do you think the whistleblowing of Heidi Mendoza is truthful?

ANSWER: Speculation is obsolete. Be careful because whistleblowing is a lucrative business if malicious -- the group around Arroyo are experts in fabrication. It has always been my position that whistleblowers should undergo electronic Lie Detector Test while answering questions of a neutral and professional private investigator.

Integrity of the whistleblower becomes questionable if the time of whistleblowing is unreasonably delayed that would seem to appear like an opportunity taken advantage in the future. I can smell high probability of political motivation in the whistleblowing when it is not executed within 36 hours from the moment the person witnessed the anomalous transaction. A "natural" good person reacts against anomaly and irregularity right away at the point of impact, and normally obeys his/her emotional obligation to report or write about it within reasonable short amount of time while the anomalous act is still fresh.

In cases of delay of whistleblowing, the remedy is a Lie Detector Test while taking the affidavit. If she is telling the truth, then she should be up to the challenge.

xxxxx

They say that "Heidi's mentor on integrity was her father. 'Ang pagsasabi ng katotohanan, daan sa kaginhawaan,' is her treasured saying from her father who was a police officer."

My response to this is, "Oh I hate cops when they try to confront the suspect only after five years after personally witnessing the crime being redhandedly committed."

xxxxx

Besides, if she is given State Witness Protection status in an extraordinarily "speedy manner", hmmmmm I can smell the hands of politics.

Religious and Racial Discrimination in Philippines

Religious discrimination offensive to the Muslims and racial discrimination offensive to the black-colored race are still massively prevalent in the Philippines, in fact MEDIA is the biggest violator. Advocacies against religious and racial discrimination in the Philippines is very exciting because the specialization is like a journey on a vast sea towards discovering a new island.