Anthony G.

Sabarillo 083309, LTS KA-LSC

Maam Floy Soriano

Reflection Paper about the Sabay-SaBayan Forum held last Januray 29, 2010 The forum I attended featured Congressman Ruffy Biazon and Yasmin Busran-Lao. They are both senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party. They expounded on the topic about Private Armies and Terrorism. Cong. Biazons main points were about how the formation of Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs) lay the groundwork for the existence of private armies, and how private armies are not clearly defined in the constitution (that such private armies not recognized by the duly constituted authority shall be dismantled). The problem here is even members of the governments administration can approve of the formation of a private army. What if the administration has vested interests? Well, thats a loophole where citizens would be adversely affected. I agree with some of Cong. Biazons views: that we have a problem with private armies because of a lack in political will, and that passing new legislation is needed to clarify the definition of private armies. However, I think one of his suggestionsstrengthening the governments own armies and the PNPis not that apt. I agree more with Mrs. Busran-Lao, that to fight violence with violence is to breed more terrorism. Her identity as a woman and as a Moro or Muslim has certainly exposed her to discrimination, given some of societys patriarchal and anti-Muslim views. I like how she pointed out that terrorism exists because of a lack of security, not only in terms of being free from physical harm or danger. She pointed out that for peace to thrive, there must be food security, proper health care, ecological security, and the like. These are fundamental human needs that arent met . And not addressing these would indeed lead to more conflict. She also mentioned that we shouldnt address only crossfire. We should address social conflicts among people. I believe in what she believes: that the root cause of the conflict is poverty, and cultural and religious injustice. What can government negotiations really do for people who get out on the streets knowing theyre outcasts, that theyre stereotyped as bad people, that later theyd be worrying what to eat, or where to get the medicine their daughter needs to survive. Its not only about keeping guns from firing. Its about keeping stomachs full and bodies healthy. Its about sheltering families. Its about religious tolerance. Its about treating one another as equals. So its not entirely wrong to arm the PNP and AFP more. We need our authorities to have the necessary technology to defend themselves and the country. But we also need to prevent the conflicts from arising in the first place. Now thats something guns cant do. Here we need the political will to channel our resources and capacities to free people from poverty, from discrimination, and other injustices.