Mindanao leaders convene in Caraga

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Leaders, sectoral representatives and tribal groups from across the Caraga region will gather in Butuan City on 10 January for a Mindanao-wide “state of the nation” consultation aimed at forming a unified stand on the country’s political and economic challenges.

The meeting is part of a series of consultations being held across Mindanao to assess national conditions and discuss possible options for the region’s future.

Benito Ranque, convenor of the consultative meeting, told the Daily Tribune that leaders from various sectors, including indigenous communities in Caraga, are expected to attend and present their positions on key national issues.

Speakers from Manila and other regions will also participate to share their insights, he added.

The consultations began in Zamboanga City last month and have since been held in Sultan Kudarat for Central Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, and in Cagayan de Oro City for Northern Mindanao.

During the Zamboanga meeting, representatives of the Sama peoples from the coastal and island communities of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu presented their views on the state of the nation. Led by retired police general Shepard Reyes, the group said it represents about 1.8 million people seeking greater political representation. The Sama communities include the Sama Badjao, Sama Bangingi, Sama Yakan, and other sea- and coastal-dwelling groups in the southern Philippines.

The movement traces its roots to the late lawyer Reuben Canoy, who advocated Mindanao self-rule. In his book Quest for Mindanao Independence, Canoy recalled early expressions of support from Muslim leaders in Palawan and tribal leaders from Bukidnon and Davao. In July 1986, a petition for federal statehood was submitted to the United Nations Secretariat.

Canoy earlier argued that recognition by a UN member state could elevate Mindanao’s status under international law.

Maigo, Lanao del Norte Mayor Rafael Rizaldo said there is a growing sense of abandonment among Mindanaoans, with some viewing independence as the only remaining option.

Meanwhile, the Sultanate of Sulu announced it will pass a resolution supporting Mindanao independence. Abe Idjirani, secretary general of the Sultanate, said Sultan Phugdalum Kiram II supports the inclusion of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan in a proposed Federal Republic of Mindanao.

Idjirani cited historical agreements, including the 1915 Carpenter–Kiram Agreement, and an arbitration ruling recognizing the Sultanate’s territorial claims over Sabah.

A Daily Tribune source based at the United Nations said the ongoing consultations form part of the requirements for UN deliberation on Mindanao’s political status.

The mainstream Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has also joined the call for independence through peaceful means. MNLF spokesperson lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla said the group favors a plebiscite under UN supervision, adopting what it described as the “Kosovo model.”

“Armed struggle is already obsolete,” he said. “The people should be allowed to decide.”