Black armbands for SAF 44 in PMA homecoming

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The black armbands with the number 44 printed in white ink were distributed in the bus of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1967. Mistahs Perto Molato and Alex De Guzman agreed to wear them to honor the sacrifices of the fallen Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

It was a gesture that was very noticeable when the class marched on Borromeo Field in Fort Del Pilar during the annual alumni homecoming on Saturday, February 21.

“They were comrades in arms,” said Pert Molato, a former pilot of the Philippine Air Force.

“Masyado silang winalang-hiya. Patay na nga. Walang galang sa mga [patay].” (They were abused. They were dead but their bodies were not respected),” added De Guzman, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group. (READ: Inside Mamasapano: When the bullets ran out)

But while their gestures in honoring the fallen cops are the same, the mistahs disagree on what they want to happen to the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – the group that killed some of the SAF troopers in bloody clashes that broke the years-long ceasefire between government forces and MILF fighters. 

The mistahs represent the different positions that PMA graduates have taken on the issue. De Guzman wants the government to pursue the Bangsamoro Basic Law, that will expand the powers of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). But Molato opposes it. He said he is relieved that the BBL is facing setbacks because of the Mamasapano tragedy. 

One country

De Guzman was assigned to Muslim areas for so many years. “I know Nur Misuari. He was my kumpare. He is a very good man,” said De Guzman. He said they served as godfathers in Robin Padilla’s wedding. 

He said the government should not give up on the peace process. “I think it should continue. But there should also be justice to those who have been done injustice by them,” he said. 

The conflict has been too long, he said. “We are living in one ountry. We want peace, even in Bangsamoro areas. We want peace,” he said. (READ: The mourners of Mamasapano)

Vicious cycle

Molato grew up in Jolo and used to work with the original Muslim rebel group – the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – that the MILF split from.  

He is disillusioned. “To tell you frankly, we were able to pacify the MNLF by buying off their leaders… We gave them logging concessions. It was martial law then. President Ferdinand Marcos issued a presidential decree granting them these privileges,” Molato said.

Molato is afraid that the story of the MNLF and MILF will be repeated. “After the MNLF signed the Tripoli Agreement, the MILF sprouted. Now, we haven’t even signed the BBL and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are already there. It’s going to be an endless cycle,” he siad.

‘We are peacemakers’

But on Saturday in Fort Del Pilar, the main voice was former Armed Forces chief retired General Eduardo Oban. The keynote speaker during the PMA homecoming drove home the responsibility of PMA alumni to support the peace process. (READ: MILF returns 16 SAF firearms)

“While warfighting is our competency, we cavaliers are above all peacemakers,” Oban reminded PMA cadets and alumni. 

As he echoed cries for justice for what happened in Mamasapano and earlier battles that betrayed peace efforts, Oban stressed in his speech that a peaceful solution to the conflicts – although a difficult process – is the way to go because the cost of war is tremendous. 

“We convulse with the thought that too many lives have been lost but the greatest casualty here is the peace we altogether seek,” he said.

“While it may be easy for one army to win a war, it will take the efforts of the entire nation to win the peace,” he added.

Oban also spoke of fixing mechanisms in the peace process to make sure the deadly clashes between forces engaged in the peace process will not happen again.

He remains in government as executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces at a time that the Philippine and US militaries are boosting cooperation activities. – Rappler.com