Duterte Will Likely Push Peace Talks in Southern Philippines : Academic
Kota Kinibalu, 10 Sya’ban 1437/18 May 2016 (MINA) – Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte is expected to continue the peace process in the country’s troubled south bogged with unrest by extremists and separatist groups, according to an academic.
Dr Zaini Othman, who is Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) strategic and security research centre director, said that Duterte, popularly known as “The Punisher” for his stand against criminals, was likely to bring more groups including the Abu Sayyaf into the peace process.
Noting that Duterte had gained strong support from the Muslim Mindanao area, he said in all the Manila administrations, the southern Philippines had always been one of the toughest political scenarios to deal with.
“I don’t see a ‘carrot and stick’ policy would be practical enough. Perhaps, what he must do is to bring all the ‘southern parties or groups’ to the negotiating table,” Dr Zaini said when asked whether Duterte’s image as “The Punisher” would see more efforts by Manila to wipe out the extremist Abu Sayyaf group responsible for kidnappings in Sabah.
“If he (Duterte) does not push for peace negotiations, like many other previous administrations, he would face prolonged and tough situations in the south, especially with the Abu Sayyaf group,” Dr Zaini told The Star Tuesday.
Outgoing President Benigno Aquino forged a peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that did augur well with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which was sidelined with other splinter groups including Abu Sayyaf.
The professor said that Duterte’s support for the so-called “Sulu family” claim for Sabah has always been part and parcel of the “Philippines presidential campaign” in the past three decades.
“Much of these campaigns are to protect the rights of the Sulu royal family, mainly for political support. In this context, ‘Mr Punisher’ would proceed on the “peace talk platform or table” previously laid down by former administrations.
“I don’t see any other method he can apply and in fact, in his election campaign, he made it clear that he preferred to talk as it was the most constructive way in achieving the interest of the Sulu royal family,” Dr Zaini said, referring to Duterte’s campaign where he stressed that “talks” were the best way to resolve issues like the Sabah claim and South China Sea issues as wars could not be won.
On overall relations with Malaysia, he said it was still too early and premature to see how Manila would head under his presidency.
“I’m pretty confident and can anticipate that much of his policy towards Malaysia will not go beyond the spirit of ASEAN since both Malaysia and Philippines as far as bilateral relations are concerned, is very much based on inter-dependence in nature,” he said.
Dr Zaini also anticipates Duterte to push towards restoring the barter trade between southern Philippines and Sabah, which was banned last month following a spate of kidnappings of seamen.
“Sociologically, barter trade activities have proven towards contributing stability in the area, especially in economic sense. I am confident, he will do his best to restore back the barter trade,” Dr Zaini added (T/R07/R01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
