Jose Torres, AMIN Representative Ariel Hernandez, Francisco Lara Jr., Amina Rasul and Edicio dela Torre offered moments of silence for the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre at the La Liga Policy Institute Forum. (December 9, 2009).

MANILA, Philippines - Policy reforms in the Philippines are needed after martial law was imposed in Maguindanao following the massacre of 57 innocent civilians last November 23, the country's worst election-related violence and worst single mass murder of journalists worldwide.

This was the message of speakers in the forum “Massacre, Martial Law, Maguindanao: What’s Next?” organized by the La Liga Policy Institute, a non-government organization which undertakes policy studies on development and poverty alleviation.

Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Ariel Hernandez said Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation (DDR) policies are needed to address the problem of militias such as Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs). CVOs are volunteers who are not authorized to carry arms. They are tasked to help in public emergency situations such as calamities and cases where public safety needs to be secured. They are under the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Video description: Attendees of the La Liga Forum (December 9, 2009) light candles and tie black ribbons to commemorate victims of the Maguindanao Massacre.

There should also be reforms in the security sector. He said the Philippines' security structure, involving the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), should be reviewed and revised to prevent them from being used by the local government.

“We should save the civilians from the problem that is warlordism in Maguindanao,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the government needs a conflict mapping policy so it can trace who the “dividers” are in conflict-stricken areas in the country.

Identify elite rulers

In understanding conflict, the elite rulers in an area must be identified, said Francisco Lara Jr., a research associate at the London School of Economics’ (LSE) Development Studies Institute’s Crisis State Research Center. Lara focused on the conflict in Maguindanao in his doctorate thesis at the LSE.

Through time, these “elite rulers” either develop their collaboration towards a common goal or become enemies, which is what happened in Maguindanao.

The elite rulers are the national government and the Ampatuan clan.

These elites bargain. In the case of Maguindanao, Lara said the Arroyo government wanted votes, and the Ampatuans delivered for them. In return, the clan accumulated power in their area, he said.

Lara said the November 23 massacre happened when the national government failed to stop the Mangudadatu clan from challenging the Ampatuans’ power in Maguindanao.

Fragile collaboration

“Fragile” is the word Lara uses to describe collaboration among the ruling elites. The collaboration solidifies if both parties are working toward a common goal.

“These allies are really enemies with common interests,” Lara said. They gain advantages at the expense of the other, he added.

There are, however, 2 beneficial situations for both parties: 1) during elections, and, 2) during economic reconstruction of the local area.

During elections, Lara said it is the local ruling family’s responsibility to make sure there is no failure of elections. They would have to secure votes for the national government and make sure there is no violence in the area.

The local ruler also benefits from reconstruction needed due to damages caused by war, he said.

Mindanao, Lara said, is the only place where local revenues rise when there is war. Reconstruction and assistance funds flood the local government, he said.

May 2010 elections

Amina Rasul of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy said fully automated elections in 2010 are a welcome development, but a “step back” in Maguindanao.

Instead of having automated polls that would lead to clean and honest elections, it would now be "easier to cheat without biometrics."

Biometrics is the process of verification of voters by recording their thumb prints, signatures and photos.

Without biometrics, Rasul said “the mayor could get all the ballots and feed it" in the counting machines. "Who would protest against the shaded markings?” she asked.

She also said that the high illiteracy rate in Mindanao would be a problem come election time. “How would you expect them to understand automated elections,” she said.

Video 2 description: "Running priest" and activist Fr. Robert Reyes says a universal prayer for victims of the Maguindanao Massacre at the La Liga Policy Institute Forum (December 9, 2009).

Lara said the presence and authority of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in Maguindanao could be dangerous. “He could be the election operator in 2010,” Lara said.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has tagged Puno as an election operator who cheated for Fidel Ramos in the 1992 presidential elections.

“The government needs to restructure the structure of fraud,” Lara said.

Amptuans to remain in power?

Lara said that those who will replace the Ampatuans in Maguindanao are clones and relatives of the alleged murderers.

He said the Ampatuans can remain in power even without the backing of the national government. Based on his research, the Ampatuans allegedly collaborate with regional crime groups.

“They have circumvented the national government,” he said. “Their power is beyond the national government."

Although the Ampatuans would most likely remain powerful, Rasul said “you cannot do this (massacre) and get away with it."