No to Mindanao secessionism; learn from Indonesia
While the world was celebrating the advent of A.D. 2026 with fireworks and horns, a grim development is resurfacing in Mindanao, Philippines. It is reported that there is yet another plan to give Mindanao (and Palawan) independence from the Philippines. As a Philippine-based micronation, Curimae denounces any attempts to break away from Philippine territory and instead urges Filipinos to consider new methods of Filipino national unity.
Even if Mindanao becomes independent of the Philippines, things will never improve because most of the world will hesitate to recognize Mindanao independence, noting the region’s history of lethal violence along with blood feuds, locally known there as rido. In fact, the additional autonomy granted to the Muslim-majority areas, namely Central Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, did not resolve the terrorist attacks there.
Instead of granting specialized autonomy that fails to resolve terrorism, what the Philippines needs is a better unitary government that mandates more cooperation between national and local levels. The national government should increase its presence and fasttrack development in the less developed regions to mitigate or prevent secessionist sentiments.
Instead of unhealthy obsessions with the likes of Germany or Malaysia, the Philippines can learn from Indonesia on how to manage local government. Indonesia is the world’s largest island country, but its people strongly prefer the unitary presidential government. In fact, the Indonesian constitution outlaws federalism by placing an eternal clause saying that provisions about the unitary form of government may not be amended. The Indonesian government deals with autonomy via ordinary legislation rather than via constitutional provisions. Instead of creating a separate autonomous region category, Indonesia assigns special status to certain provinces.
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