Mindanawans and Muslims – ‘SALING PUSA’ in PNoy’s Governance?

There is no debate about the President’s prerogative in appointing the members of his official family. This is not the issue when the peoples of Mindanao ask the question why PNoy has not bothered to appoint one from Mindanao. The issue being raised is the question of ‘inclusion’. For years, the peoples of Mindanao, but more specifically Kusog Mindanaw, have advocated for equitable share not only in terms of representation in the national governance but also in the national budget. Mr. Fidel V. Ramos during his Presidency had walked the extra mile in making Mindanawans feel that they were not only items in the agenda but actual participants in the debates about policies that affected them. He organized regular Mindanao Summits with his cabinet secretaries to listen to the peoples of Mindanao in various regions. His budget secretary received marching orders for equitable share in the budget. The Mindanawans actually look at the appropriations. And they are lucky to have Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City who provides the participants of Kusog Mindanao’s annual conference with the report of Mindanao’s actual share in the budget. The members of Congress from Mindanao, across political lines, have committed to specifically ask each national line agency for the budget allocated for Mindanao. In a similar vein, the newest Senator from Mindanao, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III or TG, in his tete a tete informal meeting with the ARMM top officials has made the same commitment. Mindanao is reported to contribute 25% to the nation’s GDP. Yet, the budget allocations to Mindanao by the various national line agencies range from 9% to 19%. This is an anomaly, especially when seen in the light of poverty and human development indices. But the big issue being raised by Mindanawans is participation in national governance. Some Presidents made appointments of, at least, a Mindanawan and a Muslim to his/her official family. One or two, no doubt, can be interpreted as ‘tokenism’. Yet, even ‘tokenism’ is far much better than ‘NADA’. The important symbol is that Mindanawans are sitting ‘around’ the table and not simply talked about. But Mindanawans’ participation in national governance is always ‘contested’. This is precisely what the peoples of Mindanao mean when they feel that they do NOT belong… Either they are treated as ‘saling pusa’ or junior partners. In many ways, I have always pointed to three things when people ask why the politics of separatism is alive in Mindanao. First is the level of poverty in Mindanao that shows neglect and/or failure in governance. Second is politics of exclusion. Facts show Mindanao’s token representation in the Senate, in the Cabinet, in the Judiciary, in Government Corporations and Financial Institutions, in Constitutional Commissions, etc. Third is the perceived injustice to the inhabitants of Mindanao, particularly to the Indigenous peoples and the Moro peoples. In many Mindanao conferences, I am constanty being asked of Mindanawans and Muslims appointed in Cabinet. The only answer I can give is, give the new President time. He is barely a month old in the presidency and he has NOT completed his appointments yet. But one day would come, when this reason would no longer be acceptable and perhaps there ends the ‘honeymoon’. It is natural that when victory comes, the people who believe that they are responsible for the victory ‘claim’ payback. PNoy has articulated a policy that ‘donations’ and electoral assistance merit no entitlements. Yet, we believe that the effects of the original sin are still strong in each one, notwithstanding said policy. In the final analysis, the list of appointees tells the real meaning or translation of the said policy. No doubt, it is very early to judge PNoy’s Presidency. He is only barely a month in office. While many pens are silent during this honeymoon stage, rest assured that they will NOT remain so post the initial stage of the 100 days. Mindanawans merited two lines in the presidential inaugural. They are good two lines! They wonder whether there will be MORE in PNoy’s SONA. Will he give a paragraph or two to the peoples of Mindanao? Abangan! While waiting for PNoy’s first SONA, we give two unsolicited advice… First, TELL THE NATION THAT MINDANAWANS ARE NOT ‘SALING PUSA’ IN YOUR GOVENANCE. Second, COME AND VISIT MINDANAO WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE AND TALK TO US.