US embassy cable - 05MANILA3095

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 003095 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S, D, P, EAP, EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINS, KISL, PINR, RP 
SUBJECT: MUSLIM VIEWS ON MANILA'S POLITICAL CIRCUS 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus for 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  Some moderate Muslims are looking beyond 
PGMA to a possible De Castro era.  The ongoing circus has 
sparked renewed interest in a look at an independent Mindanao 
as part of a federal system.  Muslim clerics may issue veiled 
attacks against PGMA on July 8.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Charge met July 6 with Amina Rasul, a close Embassy 
contact and Muslim civil society activist who is identified 
with the opposition.  Rasul stressed "all eyes are on (Vice 
President) Noli De Castro," but she worried that he has even 
less capacity for leadership than PGMA, given that he has 
never served at the head of a large bureaucracy.  Rasul noted 
that PGMA is at least tempered by the Church and civil 
society, while De Castro has no such limiting factors.  De 
Castro also is surrounded by a staff even more "ravenous" 
than PGMA's, according to Rasul. 
 
3.  (C) Recent calls for an independent Mindanao republic, as 
highlighted by outspoken and controversial Davao City Mayor 
Rodrigo Duterte, are reflective of Mindanao's disappointment 
with the ongoing political circus in Manila, Rasul said. 
Charge and Rasul agreed that Duterte -- a steady PGMA ally -- 
could also be warning the opposition that unrelenting 
confrontation with Malacanang could prompt national 
disintegration.  On this issue, Rasul opined that a 
federalist system could be the happy medium between the 
status quo and secession.  Charge noted that the USG strongly 
opposed any attempts at secession in the Philippines. 
Regarding the situation in Manila, he also stated USG support 
for transparency and accountability, but also he emphasized 
the importance of following the Constitution. 
 
4.  (C) She provided Charge with copies of a sermon that 
several muftis (clerics) will deliver across Mindanao on July 
8 during Friday prayers.  The sermon's broad themes -- which 
are not supportive of PGMA -- dwell on safeguarding the 
public trust and include Koranic verses such as: "The signs 
of hypocrisy are three: When he speaks, he lies; when he 
promises, he reneges; and when he is entrusted (with 
something), he betrays it.  Even he prays, fasts, and claims 
to be a Muslim (he is still a hypocrite)...  When a leader 
starts thinking that he is special and that there is nobody 
else who can be in his position (the leader is already lost). 
 He will soon become a dictator and will suppress all 
dissent..."  Rasul also provided Charge a copy of a separate 
statement, signed by several muftis, in which PGMA is 
implored to be courageous and submit herself to the law.  The 
document stresses that Islam is a religion of forgiveness, 
although "we cannot simply forgive and forget a crime if one 
has been committed against the public."  The final paragraph 
requests PGMA to "face the music," and "be rid of lies and 
half truths," in order to set herself free and "deliver us 
from the political quicksand we have been led to." 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  Rasul is active in Mindanao civil society 
and grass-roots efforts that showcase moderate Islam and the 
compatibility of Islam and democracy.  While she makes no 
effort to hide her opposition links, her views are indicative 
of the general distrust of Manila harbored by many Filipino 
Muslims.  In general, Muslims appear fed up with the 
political circus in "Imperial Manila," and are deeply worried 
about potential ramifications for the peace process and 
economic development plans for Mindanao, while also seeing 
this as a potential opportunity to advance agendas for 
federalism or even separatism.  End Comment. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
MUSSOMELI