Maguindanao, MILF decked in green for signing of peace accord

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – It’s all green in Maguindanao.

A day before the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the province of Maguindanao, especially the town of Sultan Kudarat where the MILF headquarters are located, is filled with streamers, small flags and people dressed in green shirts emblazoned with the words “Long Live Bangsamoro Government.”

“Green is the color of the MILF, and green symbolizes peace; this is our way for expressing our desire for peace,” Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

“We have been longing for this for several decades. Now it is at hand and we are very proud of this victory, victory of our people, the Bangsamoro people,” Jaafar said, adding he could hardly find the words to aptly describe how the Bangsamoro people feel now.

Roads, houses along the road, government buildings and other structures are filled with green flags and streamers.

Jaafar said there would be a large gathering of MILF supporters and forces inside their stronghold in Camp Darapanan in the village of Simuay in Sultan Kudarat town, less than a hour’s ride from Cotabato City.

“There are of lot of people going there right now,” he said.

Along the streets leading to Barangay Simuay, green “pandala” (flags on poles)” and streamers are  visible.

“People are very excited, people are anticipating success and victory,” Jaafar said of the “very festive mood.”

He said this was the penultimate celebration of Moro people who offered blood in their struggle to attain genuine and meaningful peace.

“This is very meaningful to me and my family,” said Muhaliden Angas, a resident of Barangay Simuay. He said he and the community where he lives were very excited.

In the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Sultan sa Barongis and Mamasapano, green “pandala” also lined the streets as if there was a grand wedding.

“More than a wedding, more than a ‘kanduli’ (thanksgiving feast), this is very festive, very historic,” said Abdullah Salamangca, a public school teacher who said he was happy to be part of the celebration.

Interviewed at his house in Shariff Aguak, Salamangca said his family would watch the signing on a giant television screen the local government is putting up for residents.

In Datu Odin Sinsuat, also in Maguindanao, people plan to hold their own thanksgiving event, to be part of the celebration.

At the government center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the entity that is to be replaced by the Bangsamoro,  a thanksgiving party called “Peacetahan” is to be held for ARMM employees to participate in the historic event.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said “kandulis” would be held simultaneously in the ARMM’s five provinces and two cities.

She said huge television monitors will be placed at the thanksgiving venue for everybody to witness the signing in Manila.

Datu Ungab, who identified himself as small-time but resourceful businessman, sells green flaglets with the words  “Long Live Bangsamoro.”

“Business is good,” he said. “Motorists, drivers and even ordinary folks buy flags for their vehicles and shirts as memorabilia.”

Even police and military checkpoints in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat are filled with streamers proclaiming support for the government’s peace effort in the southern Philippines.

The Secretary Narciso Ramos Highway that connects Cotabato City and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur is filled with streamers welcoming the signing in Malacañang.

Jaafar said about 500 persons from the side of the MILF will be in Manila to join the signing, which will become the “most beautiful and meaningful part” of Bangsamoro history.

“Everybody wants to join. That is not possible, so we are sending few people, many of whom have worked hard for this victory,” said Jaafar, who pointed out it would be the second time for him to set foot in Malacañang. The first time was during the signing of the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro in October 2012.

The military has been placed on red alert to prevent saboteurs from spoiling Thursday’s activities.

But Jaafar admitted there would be a new challenge for the Bangsamoro once the agreement is in place and implemented.

He said that for a long time  the MILF hierarchy has been leading the people in a struggle, managing the war but not politics.

“None of us has experience in governance,” he said.

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