The ruins of the ancestral house of the late founder of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Salamat Hashim located in Camp Abubakar, Barira, Maguindanao del Norte. This was his stronghold before the outbreak of the all-out war in 2000.(Morsid Kadir/BIO)
COTABATO CITY— On March 21, 2000, then-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada declared an all-out war in Mindanao, reneging from the position of his predecessor. It was, for him, the ultimate solution to the decades-long conflict in the southern part of the Philippines.
The primary target of the military campaign was to neutralize the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and was supposed to bring peace to the region.
Twenty-four years later and with the gift of hindsight, it turned out that the all-out war only caused the escalation of conflict and damages rather than the resolution of the problem.
While it was expected to restore peace and government control, it resulted to a humanitarian crisis which involved the loss of lives, widespread violence, and displacement of civilians.
Reports published by several news agencies claimed that a large number of families were displaced not to mention the individual accounts of evacuees who were separated from their loved ones due to heavily crowded evacuation centers.
In Pagalungan, Maguindanao (now Maguindanao del Sur), 33-year-old Suraina shared the horrors of her personal experience during this era.
Suraina was only nine when she experienced what she described as a ‘terror’ in her childhood. Her family lived in a remote village named Kudal— the birthplace of MILF founding chairman Salamat Hashim located around 10 kilometers from the town center.
“When the war broke, I remember we had to flee our community as the military launched their artillery attack in our village,” Suraina shared as she recalled her personal experience during the war.
During this era, artillery fire or mortar shelling locally known as ‘bazooka’ was a common military offensive before the actual military ground operation commenced.
Like everyone in their village, Suraina’s family fleed to the town center for their safety, leaving behind their home, source of income, and the peace in the community they once enjoyed.
“Since the artillery dropped on random areas, we left our place with whatever we could carry and ran for our lives,” she recalled.
Being the youngest, Suraina remembered that she had only grabbed one bag—a bag that contained her school supplies. Her older sister and her brother had carried some of their dresses like her father and mother did leaving everything behind.
Most of the evacuees proceeded to school buildings which served as evacuation centers. Since rooms were outnumbered by the number of evacuees, other families had set up their tents in vacant areas while the rest lived with their relatives.
When the war was slowly subsiding, following the fall of MILF’s stronghold Camp Abubakar sometime in July 2000, evacuees were given a chance to visit their community in the daytime only primarily to check for any valuable items they could get from it.
However, the supposed exciting opportunity turned into another tragedy as almost all of the houses in Kudal were burned into ashes. A few months after they left their place, they were sadly welcomed by the ruins of mosques, school buildings, and their lovely homes.
“The suffering we endured during the all-out war was something that I don’t want any generation to experience,” she shared.
Ironically, the all-out war was supposed to establish a peaceful community but turned out to inflict a drastic humanitarian impact forcing thousands of families to flee their homes to escape the violence. The lack of access to basic needs like food, water, and healthcare in conflict-affected areas further worsened the suffering of the civilian population.
Despite notable successful military operations in MILF major camps including Camp Abubakar, it did not provide a lasting solution to the conflict in Mindanao. The root causes of the insurgency, such as poverty, social inequality, and historical marginalization, remained unaddressed.
As a result, the need for a comprehensive and inclusive peace process became increasingly apparent, leading to renewed efforts to engage in dialogue and negotiations with rebel groups in the years that followed.
Thankfully, after decades of conflict pluralized by injustices against the Bangsamoro people, peace agreements (Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2012 and Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014) were signed by the Philippine government and the MILF witnessed by the international community.
These peace accords were monumental in the establishment of the new parliamentary government enabled by the Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law in August 2018.
Recently, the Master Development Plan for MILF’s Camp Abubakar was launched, signaling progress in the Bangsamoro peace process.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) launched the Master Development Plan for Camp Abubakar on Jan. 23, 2024, through the Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) and its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez (center) shows the official blueprint of Camp Abubakar transformation during the signing and unveiling ceremony on January 23,2024 in Barangay Tugaig, Barira, Maguindanao del Norte. The unveiling was witnessed by key officials from thw Bangsamoro Government and other agencies. (Comenei Ali/BIO)
This initiative entails cooperation between national government agencies, the Bangsamoro Government, local government units, and communities to transition the camp into a thriving and peaceful community. The plan, facilitated by the National Housing Authority (NHA), encompasses housing solutions, infrastructure projects, and socioeconomic endeavors, aiming for the camp’s comprehensive development over the next two decades.
This collaborative endeavor underscores a “whole-of-nation” approach, underscoring collective responsibility among the national and Bangsamoro governments, as well as diverse stakeholders, to foster lasting peace and progress in the region.
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said, “It is a blueprint that targets the socioeconomic deficiencies in the camp by providing housing solutions for the MILF decommissioned combatants, as well as a platform for other national government agencies and BARMM ministries to bring in programs and change.”
The all-out war in Mindanao more than two decades ago was a tragic chapter in the region’s history, marked by violence, displacement, and human suffering. The conflict underscored the complexities of the challenges facing Mindanao and highlighted the importance of addressing the underlying issues that fuel unrest and instability in the region.
Moving forward, sustainable peacebuilding efforts, rooted in justice, inclusivity, and respect for human rights, will be essential in building a peaceful and prosperous future for Mindanao and its people.
As we look towards the future, let us not allow the horrors of the all-out war to take the honor of our future generation. May the footprints of the past continue to inspire us to work towards a more peaceful and prosperous Mindanao, where all communities can thrive and flourish in harmony. Let us engrave in our hearts and souls that war is not and will never be a solution. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
