RIYADH, 26 August 2005 — Expatriate Moros should seek representation in the ongoing peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Filipino community leader here has said.
“Considering the large number of Moro expatriates who may contribute to the economic takeoff of a future Bangsamoro state (federal/independence or whatever type of governance), it is but fair that they be made to participate in the negotiations,” said Alex Lucman, a scion of one of the most prominent political clans in the Philippines’ southern region of Mindanao.
Lucman, who holds a doctorate in engineering, estimated that the number of Moros working abroad, mostly in Saudi Arabia and other Mideastern countries and Malaysia, could easily surpass 100,000.
He brought up the idea during the first consultative meeting organized by Federation of Maranao Associations in Saudi Arabia (Femas) at the International Philippine School in Riyadh (IPSR) recently.
A number of participants expressed interest in the proposal, which Lucman hopes to pursue in the form of a petition that would first be shown to overseas Muslim Filipino groups for endorsement to the Manila and MILF peace panels.
The peace talks are being hosted by Malaysia, which is also leading an International Monitoring Team (IMT) to oversee the cease-fire agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF.
Yesterday, delegates of the second batch of the monitoring team arrived from Malaysia to replace the outgoing members who recently ended their tour of duty.
The 11 new IMT members were met by the 10 outgoing members, presidential adviser on the peace process Rene Sarmiento, IMT head of mission Maj. Gen. Dato Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, government cease-fire committee chairman Brig. Gen. Ramon Santos, and MILF cease-fire committee chairman Von Al-Haq.
Uniting Voice
During the forum at the IPSR, Nawawi Mabaning, who was the master of the ceremonies, said the gathering was meant to forge a consensus among Muslims OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) so that they can effectively contribute to the making of policies that affect them and their families.
“As an OFW we are concerned with what’s going on in our country economically, politically and in terms of security,” Mabaning said.
Some participants took the occasion to remind other organization leaders to refrain from misrepresenting the entire community. “What I don’t agree with is the act of some individuals who speak for and in behalf of the majority without conducting any consultation,” said Lucman, referring to the petitions presented by certain community leaders to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo during his visit to Riyadh last month.
The petitions expressed support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the height of a clamor for her resignation after the exposure of wiretapped tapes of her alleged conversation with an election official on how to rig last year’s election.
After a long silence, Arroyo confessed to talking with the election official, former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, but maintained that she did not cheat.
The Department of Foreign Affairs subsequently used the petitions to show that the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia were united behind Arroyo’s continued leadership.
A big number of community leaders later said they were never consulted and some said they were deceived into signing the main petition passed around during their meeting with Romulo and other diplomats at the Philippine Chancery.
