TEMPO.CO, Manila - Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday called for autonomy for a Muslim region in the south to end the 45-year insurgency by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite widespread misgivings.
The insurgency has killed 120,000, displaced two millions and forced people into poverty despite the region having rich natural resources.
According to Aquino, the autonomy is the only way to build peace in the region and everyone is responsible for pursuing peace.
However, the Senate and the House of Representatives have halted work on legislation for the autonomous region called the Bangsamoro Basic Law after MILF militants killed 44 policemen in Mindanao.
Some lawmakers, Catholic bishops and civil society groups have even urged Aquino to resign for not being able to handle the conflict.
Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform, said the president’s stand on the autonomy was risky. "Aquino is taking a big gamble and risking whatever is left of political capital," he said. “I don’t see any win-win situation.”
CHANNEL NEWS ASIA | REUTERS | MARIA RITA