Separatism in the Philippines explained

Separatism in the Philippines refers to bids for secession or greater autonomy for certain areas in the Philippines. The scope of the article includes such efforts since the Philippine Revolution both currently and historical.

Secession

Southern Philippines

Several groups had advocated the independence of Mindanao, including the Sulu archipelago and Palawan from the Philippines. Such armed groups include the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and the Abu Sayyaf.

Separatism during the American colonial period

Historically, several states have governed the region such as the Sulu and Maguindanao sultanates. Other entities such as Sultanate of Buayan and the Pat a Pangampong ko Ranao emerged. These states has resisted attempts by the Spanish Empire to totally subjugate the area. Nevertheless, the Spanish ceded the whole of Philippine archipelago in the Treaty of Paris of 1898.[1] The United States later took control over the area, governing it as part of the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands.

Anticipating that the United States would decolonize the islands and grant the Philippines full independence, Moro leaders has expressed opposition their territories to be included in a future Philippine state. Such instances of this sentiment being expressed include:[1]

Kamlon uprising

More secessionism continued after the United States granted the Philippines full independence on July 4, 1946.[1] Hadji Kamlon launched a rebellion.[3] As a response Sulu's Representative Ombra Amilbangsa filed House Bill No. 5682 in the House of Representatives during the 4th Congress which proposed granting independence for the Sulu islands.[1]

MIM and BMLO

The Muslim Independence Movement arose in 1968 following the Jabidah massacre which advocated secession of the Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan areas.[4] The organization was later renamed the Mindanao Independence Movement so it could be inclusive to non-Muslims.[5] The Blackshirts was an alleged armed wing of the MIM. By 1969, the group has received financial support from Malaysia but failed to garner wider support from the Moros.[6]

The MIM would be disbanded in 1970 after meeting with then President Ferdinand Marcos. Leaders from the disbanded MIM, both students and older lead figures, would form the Bangsa Moro Liberation Organization (BMLO) but the organization would be disbanded due to internal conflict.[6]

Moro National Liberation Front

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was established as a result of the Jabidah massacre. While it's unclear when the MNLF was actually established it considers the date of the incident, March 18, 1968, as its foundation date.[2] The MNLF had Nur Misuari as its first chairman and one of its early meetings was in October 1972 in Pangkor Island in Malaysia.[6]

Moro Islamic Liberation Front

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Hashim Salamat splintered off from the MNLF when it abandoned its bid for independence in 1978.[7] The MILF formally dropped its bid for independence when it signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the Philippine national government in 2012.[8]

Federal Republic of Mindanao

Canoy and Noble proposals

Reuben Canoy, leader of the Mindanao People's Democratic Movement and former presidential candidate had an averted plan to declare the Federal Republic of Mindanao in 1986.[9] [10] Four years later, the 1990 Mindanao crisis arose where Col. Alexander Noble led a mutiny and proclaimed an independent Federal Republic of Mindanao.[11] Noble along with Canoy, who is also involved as a civilian supporter, was arrested by government authorities but claimed that his effort was successful since it brought into attention issues affecting Mindanao.[12] [13]

Alvarez proposal

Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez has advocated for the secession of Mindanao from the Philippines. He reportedly held the stance as early as 2005 when Rodrigo Duterte, then the Mayor of Davao City, advocated for the Christian-majority portion of Mindanao to secede in the event President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was deposed by a revolution or coup d'état. Alvarez had advocated an independence declaration "with or without GMA".[14]

In November 2023, Alvarez proposed that Mindanao should push for independence if the national Philippine government continues to pursue its claim in the South China Sea dispute. In his opinion, pursuing the claim will drag Mindanao into an armed conflict if the national government continues its policy regarding China and expressed reluctance on the United States commitment to side with the Philippines in a potential military confrontation.[15]

In January 2024, amidst a People's Initiative bid launched to revise the Philippine constitution, Duterte has said that Alvarez is planning to launch a signature campaign proposing Mindanao independence.[16] Alvarez has reiterated his support for Mindanao independence.[17]

In February 27, 2024, Duterte backtracked and called his earlier pronouncements as a bluff.[18] [19] However Alvarez would still affirm that he is still pursuing said advocacy stating that there is "no rush" to declare an independent Mindanao.[20]

The proposed independent Mindanao state both of the mid-2000s and the early 2020s was named the Federal Republic of Mindanao[21] and would have a federal form of government[22]

The mid-2000s proposal had eight constituent states, a national flag and a national anthem entitled "Land of Promise". Meanwhile the early 2020s proposal had six constituent states and a flag.[23] Bukidnon was proposed as the capital. The Mindanao and Sabah Alliance (MASADA) stated that the Malaysian state of Sabah which was historically part of the Sulu Sultanate, is also part of the proposed state.[21]

Abu Sayyaf

The Abu Sayyaf was formed in 1991 splintering from the Moro National Liberation Front with Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani as its founder. Its professed goal is to establish an Islamic state comprising Mindanao, the Sulu archipelago, and Palawan as well as areas outside the Philippines specifically Borneo and southern Thailand.[24] The group split into two main factions after Janjalani's death, whose leaders in turn were killed in 2006 and 2007 which led to Abu Sayyaf splitting into several more factions. In 2014, several factions of the Abu Sayyaf swore allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) which aims to establish a larger Islamic state of its own.[25]

Greater autonomy

This includes efforts to secure greater autonomy for areas or regions in the Philippines while remaining an integral part of the country. Either this efforts involve the creation of an autonomous region within a unitary state or grassroot movements for the creation of a certain subdivision within a federal Philippines.

Other

BansaSug

At the Bangsa Sug Summit in 2018, participants of the convention including claimants of the Sultanate of Sulu, called for the creation of a Bansa Sug federal state consisting of the Sulu archipelago provinces and Zamboanga Peninsula. They also campaigned for the option to "opt-out" from the then-proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region.[26] [27]

Cordillera

See main article: Cordillera autonomy movement.

Historical bids

Bangsamoro

See main article: Bangsamoro. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is the sole extant autonomous region in the Philippines. It was established after a peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which originally pursued for independence. The region was established in 2019 after a two-part plebiscite and succeeded the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Previously the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity was attempted to be established as part of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MO-AD) between the MILF and the Philippine government under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2008. However the MO-AD was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.[28]

Federal State of the Visayas

See main article: Federal State of the Visayas. The Federal State of the Visayas was an independent revolutionary state during the Philippine Revolution. Its proponents intended it to be a subunit of the Philippines under a federal form of government.

Legality

It is impossible for any part of the Philippines to legally secede without amending the current 1987 Constitution, which includes a provision mandating the protection of the "territorial integrity of the Philippines".[29]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Lingga . Abhoud Syed . Understanding Bangsamoro Independence as a Mode of Self-Determination . Mindanao Journal . 2004 . XXVII . 4–6 . 5 June 2022.
  2. News: Sidebar: March in the history of the Bangsamoro . 3 April 2022 . MindaNews . 13 March 2014.
  3. Book: Iribani . Abraham . Give Peace a Chance: The Story of the GRP-MNLF Peace Talks . 2006. 29–30, 325 . First .
  4. Book: Gowing, Peter G.. Muslim Filipinos - Heritage and Horizon. New Day Publishers. 1979. 190–192.
  5. Book: Gross, Max L.. A Muslim Archipelago: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia. National Defence International College. 2007. 184–187.
  6. Web site: Moro National Liberation Front . Mapping Militant Organizations .
  7. News: Gubal . Mama . MILF Rejects Malaysian Advice to Drop Independence Bid . 5 June 2022 . Arab News . 1 May 2003 . en.
  8. News: MILF chief Murad arrives in Manila for historic peace trip . 5 June 2022 . Rappler . Agence France-Presse . 14 October 2012.
  9. News: Philippine separatists raise new flag. March 19, 2014. Laurence Journal-World. April 25, 1986.
  10. News: Separatist shun declaring independence. March 19, 2014. Ottawa Citizen. April 25, 1986.
  11. News: Filipino mutineers strikes two cities, proclaims independence. March 19, 2014. The Southeast Missourian. October 5, 1990.
  12. News: Leader of Filipino rebels arrested after coup fails. March 19, 2014. The Pittsburgh Press. October 6, 1990.
  13. News: Renegade Filipino colonel surrenders. March 19, 2014. The Tuscaloosa News. October 6, 1990.
  14. News: Tulfo . Ramon . Mindanao might break away . 31 January 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 9 July 2005 . A23 . en.
  15. News: Alvarez bats for an independent Mindanao if PH continues to quarrel with China . 31 January 2024 . Manila Bulletin . 20 November 2023.
  16. News: Duterte steps up criticism of Marcos, pushes for Mindanao secession . 31 January 2024 . The Straits Times . 31 January 2024 . en.
  17. News: Panganiban-Perez . Tina . Alvarez 'thanks' Romualdez over renewed calls for Mindanao independence . 31 January 2024 . GMA News . 31 January 2024 . en.
  18. News: Zuasola . Ferdinand . Mindanao independence: Duterte's ‘joke’ that just didn't fly . 5 March 2024 . Rappler . 28 February 2024.
  19. News: VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Duterte takes back his call for the separation of Mindanao from PH . 5 March 2024 . VERA Files . 29 February 2024.
  20. News: Echeminada . Perseus . Alvarez still keen on Mindanao independence . 30 March 2024 . Daily Tribune . 1 March 2024 . en.
  21. News: Echeminada . Perseus . Alvarez: Secession bid still rolling . 30 March 2024 . Daily Tribune . 18 February 2024 . en.
  22. News: Llemit . Ralph Lawrence . Alvarez won’t drop drive on Mindanao secession . 30 March 2024 . SunStar Publishing Inc. . 16 February 2024 . en.
  23. News: Echeminada . Perseus . Alvarez: No rush to declare Mindanao independence . 30 March 2024 . Daily Tribune . 17 February 2024 . en.
  24. Web site: Measures . Anthony . What Is Abu Sayyaf? . Tony Blair Institute for Global Change . 3 April 2022 . en . May 2017.
  25. News: Philippines unrest: Who are the Abu Sayyaf group? . 3 April 2022 . BBC News . 14 June 2016.
  26. News: Carreon . Frencie . Federal state pushed for Zambo Peninsula, Sulu Archipelago . 3 July 2021 . MindaNews . 9 May 2018.
  27. News: Muslims push for federal state . 3 July 2021 . The Manila Times . 19 May 2018 . en.
  28. Web site: The Philippines: The Collapse of Peace in Mindanao . . 5 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190729181224/https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/philippines/philippines-collapse-peace-mindanao . July 29, 2019 . en . 23 October 2008.
  29. News: Casilao . Joahna Lei . Separate Mindanao a 'practical impossibility' — law expert . 3 February 2024 . . 1 February 2024.