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After the governments victory at Camp Abubakar, the government is now free to proceed with the massive implementation of the development program. The government envisions Mindanao as a center of economic activity in the country. If implemented with seriousness, sincerity and honesty, all these could mean a fresh start for a new life for Mindanao and its people who have been clamoring for a long time for a bright and lasting peace not only in Mindanao but also for the whole country. This will bring about progress and stability for the Philippines.

BARIRA, Maguindanao The old, blue Tamaraw FX cruised across the beautiful countryside dotted with cornfields, abaca and coconut farms. Onboard were soldiers seemingly oblivious that this was once the most dangerous place in Mindanao. Inside the van, Army Lt. Greg Jose and his men were not being overly alert; as if not motoring through a risky war zone. This was, after all, Camp Abubakar. And no more than three years ago, government troops were still being ambushed in the area.

But many of the trenches that once lined the former main headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are no longer there. Mother nature claimed back the furrows MILF rebels once used to lay ambush on government troops. Except for the ruins of a decrepit building in the fields, there is scant trace of the two-months of bitter fighting for control over the camp that sits on a 32,000-hectare land that sprawls between the towns of Matanog, Barira, Buldon and Parang in Maguindanao. It is really quiet here now. We are now friends with all the residents here, Jose said. Risky real estate Ten years ago and Jose and his men would have all been dead had they traveled to and through the camp the way they did. Camp Abubakar was more than a military camp. MILF top leaders Al Haj Murad Ibrahim and the late Salamat Hashim had their offices there. Murad, who was then MILF military chief, held office in Barangay Sarmiento, Matanog town while Salamat resided in a small bungalow inside Camp Abubakar itself. Part of the camp were thriving Muslim communities over which the MILF ran a system of government based on Shariah law. Smoking was not allowed in these communities and wearing short pants even among males was forbidden.

The nearby forests, small lakes, and rivers provided natural routes and cover for the MILF fighters. Its agricultural fields were honeycombed with tunnels, ditches and trenches that formed an elaborate defense system. Agricultural produce from farms helped sustain the small army of MILF fighters stationed in Camp Abubakar. The former Camp Abubakar was self sufficient. It had public markets and small businesses. It had a thriving community that supported the rebels, Jose said. The fall Camp Abubakar was overrun on July 9, 2000 after two months of relentless airstrikes, artillery and ground onslaught by government troops. Murad declared a withdrawal of MILF forces from the Ramos Highway after the 1st Marine Brigade breeched the camps gateway in Barangay Langkong in Matanog, Maguindanao. The Marines faced resistance around Mt. Cabuyao where women MILF guerillas in black uniforms were seen fighting in the trenches. The MILF fighters also mounted .50 cal. machinegun emplacements on Mt. Bitu, which overlooked Camp Abubakar, and fired at the Marines who overran Murads house in Sitio Sarmiento, Matanog town. Fighting was also fierce around Hill 463 in Matanog town, where Army Scout rangers and Marines fought against well-entrenched MILF rebels.

The ruins Lt. Jose and his men saw while onboard their van was what was left of the small beautiful bungalow MILF leader Salamat used to live and receive visitors in. And of visitors, he had many. When government troops entered the bungalow two days after the fall of Camp Abubakar, they saw pictures of Senators Loren Legarda, Tingting Cojuangco and Mindanao leader Reuben Canoy on the cabinets and floors. The conquering soldiers took everything they could lay their hands on for souvenirs. They even used books from Salamats impressive library collection for cooking. Today, the bungalow is bereft of its colored roofs. Its fine wooden walls are gone and only the massive gray concrete foundation is left, though tall grasses from the nearby forest is about to reclaim that too. Presidential trophy Camp Abubakar was the prized catch of former President Joseph Estrada who launched an All-out War policy against the MILF rebels in a presidency he would ultimately not finish due to allegations of massive graft and corruption. Estrada was so elated with the news of the capture that he flew to Camp Abubakar on July 10, 2000 and, together with his generals, posed in front of captured machineguns, computers and other military equipment for TV crews and photographers. In celebrating the fall of Camp Abubakar, Estrada brought trucks of lechon and cold beer to feed the conquering soldiers, a move that was denounced by devout Muslims who see it as a sacred ground for Islamic revival.

The eating of pork and the partaking of liquor is considered forbidden in Islam. Ten years later, Estrada ran in the 2010 presidential elections and made a campaign promise to crush the MILF rebels once and for all if he won. The promise still won him big votes in Northern Mindanao, Bukidnon, Davao and Sarangani, which have predominant Christian voters, an indicator of the continued existence of a deep divide between peoples. From battlefield to farms The last 10 years of non-fighting though has brought back residents who evacuated when the war broke out and they have transformed the former battlefield back into lush agricultural farms. President Gloria Arroyo, whos continued Estradas term of office before getting a mandate of her own, contributed to the transformation by pouring millions of pesos in developmental aid to the area as part of her effort to win the hearts and minds of the Bangsa Moro people. The road from Langkong to Camp Abubakar was concretized. A radio station was even put up although it went off the air shortly after. Army engineers built a mosque in Sarmiento to replace the old one that was destroyed by the bombings. To entice residents to come back, a low-cost housing project was built, courtesy of Gawad Kalinga. Because the weather around Camp Abubakar is cool, there was even talk of turning it into a tourism destination.

Yet, the dream of turning Camp Abubakar into a thriving economic zone failed and the hearts and minds program of Arroyo, whose term was also rocked with allegations of massive graft and corruption, also fell into question. Farmers still use horses to bring their produce to the traders, who in turn, sell them to markets in Parang or Malabang town in Lanao del Sur. Increments of change The transition has not been easy. Lieutenant Jose and his men knew this as they waved their hands to a group of men standing beside the road to Camp Abubakar, which they have renamed Camp Iranun. We still support these people in whatever way we can. We are winning. These people are now our mass base, he said. Oling Basagon, 41, watched as her husband and son dry corn beside their house at the Gawad Kalinga housing project. I dont want to run anymore. I am enjoying a life of peace here, Basagon said in the vernacular. Basagon said it took them five years to gain enough courage to come and settle at the Gawad Kalinga housing project. Before that, Basagon, who originally resided in Barira town, said the life of their family was from one evacuation center to another. We ate relief food for two years. Life was never ending search for relief food, Basagon narrated.

We dont have much here but the food is grown by us, she added. Shuffling the candy bags at her small sari-sari store, Basagon said they will not hesitate to run away again if war will broke out. We will run if the soldiers are around. They always attract violence, she said.