With peace in Bangsamoro, Moro refugees in Manila look forward to going home

Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—“Anyone would want to return to where he or she was born,” a Muslim resident of the Quiapo district of  Manila said Wednesday as she voiced hope that Thursday’s signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro would bring peace to Mindanao.

Asliah Sharief Murad, 45, left Lanao del Sur in the 1980s to escape the conflict and seek livelihood opportunities in Manila.

“We couldn’t find jobs then because of the fighting. I hope there will be peace now. I hope there will be livelihood,” she said.

While voicing hopes of returning to Mindanao, residents of the Muslim community in Quiapo were not exactly in a jubilant mood over the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

It took a civil society group from Marawi City to bring some semblance of celebration to the Quiapo Muslim enclave.

“We were a bit saddened when we came here because there seemed to be no observance in Manila,” Agakhan M. Sharief, chair of Bangsamoro National Movement for Peace and Development, told the Inquirer.

Sharief said they formed the group to support the Bangsamoro agreement and organize celebrations in Mindanao. They also thought of bringing the celebration to Luzon, visiting Muslim communities in Tarlac, Baguio, Pangasinan, Greenhills in San Juan City, and Baclaran.

“This is a very important event because the agreement recognizes Bangsamoro autonomy. There will be exclusive authority for Bangsamoro government such as education and agriculture while the central government will exercise authority on national defense and budget. There will also be joint authority,” Sharief said.

The group held prayers, unity walks, a cultural night and a forum to educate the Muslim youth and other residents in Manila. They will converge with other Muslim groups in Mendiola for the signing of the peace agreement on Thursday.

“When they see that there’s peace in Mindanao, there might be less Moros here. Some of these people have properties and farms but they choose to live like squatters here because of the turmoil,” Sharief said.

Ustadz Solaiman Pasandalan, 42, used to plant rice and corn in Marawi City, but he’s now one of the vendors lining up Globo de Oro Street in Quiapo.

“It’s good if there will be a Bangsamoro government. There will be peace and quiet. We own a piece of land but we couldn’t make a living there because of the conflict,” he said.

Hajisaid Badron, 45, said he would also return to Marawi City if the agreement is implemented. “The climate is pleasant there,” he said, referring to Marawi’s generally cool weather.

“Everyone wants peace. When there’s chaos, everyone is affected. It has impact on national economy,” Alidden Sultan, secretary of Barangay 384 Zone 39, said.

“Some want to go back to Mindanao, but they are waiting for good results. There is still a lot to be worked on. Hopefully, this peace agreement will be given a chance,” he said.

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