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As reported by BBC, the ongoing conflict in Mindanao is by far the worst in many years. More than 200,000 people have been displaced with damage currently estimated at P121.5 million. But according to AFP Chief Gen. Alexander Yano who was at the Manila Overseas Press Club forum last Wednesday, hostilities are being contained in several areas with ground troops starting to take control of the situation.

After the MOA-AD fiasco, all bets are off with the MILF agreeing to disband and laying down arms, even if both sides are still talking about resuming peace negotiations. People don’t seem to realize that today, we have a far more serious problem in Mindanao than ever before.

The conflict between Christians and Muslims has been around since time immemorial, and something that is not unique to the Philippines. Accounts say that Mindanao’s quest for independence began in 1910 with some businessmen wanting to isolate the area for development purposes. This desire for self rule was echoed in 1930 (the time when Philippine independence from the US was being discussed) by the Muslims who did not want to be ruled even by a Philippine government run by Filipinos. But the “Mindanao problem” really manifested in the ’60s when the Moros launched a rebellion to claim the South as their ancestral home.

Over the years, the situation has gotten worse, compounded by the fact that Muslim Mindanao has the highest poverty incidence with six provinces listed in the top 10 poorest in the country. It also has the highest population growth rate at 5.46 percent. As more people are born, the situation can only get worse as the poverty levels likewise escalate.

No matter what one says, Mindanao continues to be a hotbed with internationally-linked terrorists using the region as a recruitment and training base. The botched MOA-AD deal made the stakes even higher, with the predominantly Christian populace as well as other Muslim minorities ready to take up arms to protect their interests. They resent not having been properly consulted on the establishment of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, and many object to the idea of a handful of MILF leaders—who can’t seem to control their men—taking control of a huge area.

Of course, the MOA took on international significance with the Malaysian government helping out in the peace process. The Malaysians were naturally disappointed at the aborted signing, and so was the entire Muslim world that was watching as the developments unfolded. There’s no arguing the US is also concerned, and given the recent terrorist bombing in Digos, they are doubly watchful since terrorism is one of their major problems. But trying to link the Americans to what’s happening in Mindanao will not make things any better.

Besides, we seem to have a short memory—remember that the US troops helped us with the Abu Sayyaf, especially at the time when the terrorist group was getting stronger during the latter part of 2002. At the time, the military was almost helpless with those terrorist bandits who continued to elude capture. It was then Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, now our Ambassador to Australia, who told us the successful capture of Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot in 2003 was completed with the help of American hi-tech spy technology that enabled our troops to track down and accurately pinpoint the location of the Abu Sayyaf commander.

Certainly, we should not be naïve to realize that help from the US is ultimately to protect their own interests. But let’s not forget, too, that even the Malaysians have their own interest in the whole process. The bottom line is, we have to appreciate the fact that without the help of the Americans, it would be very difficult to finish off these terrorists whose weapons are even more sophisticated than what our military have. The only time we can safely say we no longer need American help is when we are strong enough to fight this kind of war—but not when we are still dependent on US assistance most especially in terms of training and equipment.

Naturally, we have to make sure their presence does not violate the Constitution, and are confined within the tenets of the Visiting Forces Agreement. The US troops are supposed to be here mainly for humanitarian assistance, lending their equipment for the transport of wounded Filipino soldiers, distribution of food and other items to the displaced populace. And from what I am told, the DFA had been very strict with the entry of American soldiers, who may all “look alike” but are definitely not overstaying since there had been a lot of personnel turnover.

The Mindanao crisis is more critical than people think, and if the situation is not contained soon, this conflict could one day be right at our doorsteps in Metro Manila. In the past, we only paid attention when the Abu Sayyaf started to kidnap high profile people like what happened in the tourist spot in Dos Palmas, the attempted kidnapping in Pearl Farm in Davao and other incidents.

Clearly, we must stop pointing the blame on whodunit or who did what. No one has the perfect solution to the problem that has been around for so long. This is a delicate situation that must be carefully handled, done openly and with prudence—to avoid even more dire consequences than what the MOA-AD fiasco had so obviously generated.

A decades-old conflict cannot be solved overnight and in secrecy. Peace in Mindanao may be elusive, but not impossible. I am certain that in time, the problem will be solved.