Things are different now

IT’S A LONG WAY TO GO – For the last few days after the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro autonomous political entity, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) supreme leader Nur Misuari has opened his scathing speeches with the same lines about where he stands and what he thinks about the new peace accord entered into between the government (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Touring various areas in Mindanao, Misuari explained to chuckling audiences that the new peace deal is an apparent disregard for the prevailing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Truly, Misuari still commands tremendous support, especially among the people from the southwest part of the island as clearly shown during the 17th MNLF General Summit Gathering held in Davao City last week. Loyal and committed supporters and followers flocked in hordes to the city – crowed-pressed and braved the scorching heat just to get a glimpse and listen intently to their revered chieftain. Crowds gathered along the roadside, attracted by the roar of vehicles and escort sirens. Misuari was in his element, walking among his people, shaking hands and telling stories. However, crowd estimates vary – organizers placed it at 10,000 while others have it at 5,000 and veteran journalists who used to cover rallies put it approximately between 1,500 to 2,000.
Misuari is in his usual self – talking for hours without tiring, details in staccato-style, blasts like from a verbal machine gun. All this may explain some of the enthusiasm during the so-called “summit” where he is divulging plans and steps of what to do to strongly oppose the formation of a new autonomous political entity. At times he loses himself in flights of rhetoric – or pure political boosterism. “But don’t count him out yet,” cautions an insider and former close pal who is privy on the Mindanao peace process. “He’s got an enormous stock of goodwill despite his previous excesses and trespasses and brushes with the law,” he further added.
But the many years of political hiatus has clearly weighed in on the man. Keen observers say he has grown old and tired. Things are entirely different now. Although he hasn’t changed in terms of his devotion to the cause, he is not just dealing with the GRP-MILF Framework Agreement, but society at large, politicians and people from all walks of life. Now that a new peace pact is “rightly in place” and at a time when he was groping in the dark, Misuari is trying whatever means he can to get what he can for his people even to the extent of filing a protest before the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). That quest began even before the ink gets dry during the signing of the new peace accord.
Nonetheless, Misuari appeared from view after years of political “hibernation.” His timing, as always, was remarkable. Days later, the GRP-MILF negotiating panels finally signed the peace deal aimed at establishing the BFA. The sad thing is that the peace pact is keep out of reach from the old revolutionary. But political experts noted that Misuari seems to hold strong cards, in particular, an outstanding connection in the influential OIC.
Time and again, he says he is not advocating that his MNLF faction should adopt either the use of force or violence to forestall the establishment of a new autonomous political entity.  As the GRP-MILF have done – in his opinion – hastily and unwisely. Reacting to critics of Misuari’s actions, some political analysts categorically say that the issue is plain and simple: it is whether or not to form a new autonomous region to replace ARMM in order to determine the public sentiment on the questions of the future of the Bangsamoro people.
But this is the most remarkable turnaround at the moment: aside from his legion of committed supporters and sympathizers, still many friends and accomplices stick up for their old friend, defending the former revolutionary and ARMM regional governor. They say he has also a good heart and grand intentions. Misuari has lots of these, but is suffering from the growing pains that afflict any politicians, let alone one who lived outside the system for quite some time. Critics aren’t kind, though, saying that they are disenchanted by Misuari’s leadership and management style and isn’t even able to run ARMM appropriately during his term.
Well, largesse is politics as usual. People of the Bangsamoro land will expect more from whoever leads the new autonomous region or a leader who devotes his life shaking the old system. Of course, tearing things down is much easier than building them up. After all the battles and sufferings, Muslim Mindanao begs for a new, bright start, not another politician. They want progress and development. Whether lasting peace will follow prosperity after the much-hyped Bangsamoro formation is another question. It’s still a long way to go.