Mindanao situation to worsen

A Sri Lankan peace advocate and three others were abducted by armed men in Basilan today. This is the fourth celebrated abduction in the Jolo-Basilan-Tawi-Tawi triangle since January. Reports however, indicate that some kidnapped victims are to be released with conditions. As of latest, the 3 other locals who were kidnapped were released just this afternoon.

However, I doubt if this Sri Lankan is really a peace advocate. There are indications that this Sri Lankan could possibly be a spy or an agent of the International Monitoring Group (IMG) of Sidney Jones which is based in Indonesia. This Sri Lankan could have been sent to (1) verify reports that Jemaah Islamiyah has deeply infiltrated the Abu Sayyaf Groop (ASG) and (2) validate earlier accounts that the ASG has been stocking up arms in preparation for a bigger offensive against the AFP and American troops stationed in the area. Remember that the self-appointed anti-terror expert in the Asia-Pacific is a Sri Lankan.

Malacanang and the government security agencies should be worried. These kidnappings are happening in the cities, not in the rural areas. Kidnappers are getting bolder and bolder by the day. The peace and order situation in Mindanao is getting worse.

It seems that government security agencies are helpless in stemming the slide towards chaos in that part of the Philippines. The reason is quite obvious---most people are armed in Mindanao. The PNP is trying to control the proliferation of illegal arms in the area but has been unsuccessful so far. What some analysts are worried is Mindanao slowly turning into a warzone. The prospect of that happening is not far-fetched. Mindanao, it appears, is highly vulnerable as a training ground and laboratory by terrorist and criminal groups. It's not simply a resource problem for the national police. Mindanao is really a big area to secure. One can't simply administer that big an area.

This justifies some suggestions that maybe, it is time for the national government to grant police powers to the big armed organisations there. By giving, say the MILF or the MNLF, powers to institute Islamic counter-measures against criminality and terrorism, that could ease the worsening situation in the area.