Election Violence and Mindanao

New York Times: 21 Filipinos Dead in Election Violence, some beheaded
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/world/asia/24phils.html?_r=1


Well, yesterday was the first day for filing of candidacy.  I guess these animals (instinctively) took it as a sign to begin their rampage.

Did I ever mention that in 2007, just about 6 months after the elections, I went to General Santos City with a group of businessmen.  We kind of lost our way and passed through that area (on the news) and had just missed (by a couple of hours) a gunfire ambush between two families on opposing political parties.  When we passed the site, which was still crowded with bystanders and onlookers, the blood on the road and pavement was still wet.

I can just imagine what kind of impact this will have on Mindanao tourism again.  I'm sure a lot of you will be asking if it is safe to come to Mindanao for the reunion next year which I have been so enthusiastically promoting.  Let me draw you a picture so you can see it clearly:

Mindanao is the 2nd largest island in the Philippines.  It is made up of 6 regions:  Region 9 - Zamboanga Peninsula, Region 10 - Northern Mindanao, Region 11 - Davao Region, Region 12 - SOCSARGEN, Region 13 - Caraga Region, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.  The last - ARMM - is located on the western-most side of Mindanao, containing the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.  The ARMM region is only one-sixth of the whole island of Mindanao and most of its area is scattered onto hundreds of islands in the Mindanao Sea.  

Separating the ARMM from its neighbors are the following:  from Region 9 - a body of water (Moro Gulf), from Region 12 - vast tracks of rice fields.  But there are roads, yes, very good ones at that.  How can we feel really safe if all the roads leading to neutral areas are concrete and accessible?

Before I answer this question, let me bring forth a few facts:  Cagayan de Oro, the regional capital of Northern Mindanao (where Camiguin is located) has a Muslim population of about 150,000, which is roughly 1/4 the total population of the city.  However, many of these Muslims come and go, meaning they don't really live there.  They either just go for a few days to go shopping or they just do business there.

So the answer to the question:  A few years ago, I was talking to a Christian salesman whose area was the Zamboanga and ARMM regions.  He said that the Muslims who come to Cagayan de Oro (which is considered neutral ground for them) are peaceful.  If, my friend said, anything untoward (i.e. war-related/kidnapping/salvaged) happened to them or if something happened to Christians and it was traced back to them within Cagayan de Oro, that would be the day the world would end.  Because then, it would be the war between peaceful Muslims and the warlike Muslims.  One can even say that the reason why the other regions (9, 10, 11, 12 and 13) are so secure (I've lived here all my life and not once have I experienced anything life-threatening by human hands) is because we are being protected by the peace-loving Muslims.

There are travel advisories.  When we travel to SOCSARGEN (Region 12) and ARMM, we also have to follow specific instructions, like travel when the sun is still high in the sky or bring along a Muslim guide to Marawi City.  But if you don't call attention to yourself or you don't cause trouble for anyone, nothing will happen.  How many times does CDO hold Doctors' Conventions?  Almost twice a year.  Have any doctors been kidnapped?  Ask Maxie (aka Mano) because he came here last year.

Though there is no pattern to how the kidnappers choose their victims, it does seem like they pick people whose governments or companies cannot afford to lose them and who have the means to pay the ransom (i.e. Ces Drilon, Red Cross volunteers, missionaries).

Last year, we provided services for the whole cast and crew of Star Cinema (about 100+ people) for 39 days, and even they forgot that they were in Mindanao.

May God Bless Us Always!

p.s. Sorry for being so defensive.  I guess I feel this way because for decades Mindanao has been sorely, sorely misjudged and underestimated.  The point is, if you don't come and see it for yourself, you might end up believing everything negative they say on the news.  And if you stop and think for a moment, Manila is actually more dangerous than any city you visit here in Mindanao.  Whenever I go there, I become paranoid when I find myself still out of the house at sunset.  Coz, there, it's not just the Muslims you have to watch out for...