The Key to Fighting Terrorism by Datu “Toto” Paglas
A few weeks back I had the fortuitous luck to be invited to the Young Muslim Achievers Awards in General Santos City. It was a night where young Moro professionals were recognized for their hard work as well as to welcome new members into their fold. Organizers of the event were the Young Moro Professionals themselves, who were either businessmen or working professionals.
An added bonus of the event was the chance to be able to listen to inspirational talks given by prominent personalities in Mindanao. Such as Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez, a sling of others but most especially Datu Ibrahim Paglas III, or more popularly known as Datu Toto Paglas.
A one time Mayor of the town named after their illustrious fore bearer (Datu Paglas in Maguindanao), he is currently President and CEO of Paglas Group of Companies, a 2005 Eisenhower Fellow, Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Peace Program for the Philippine Business for Social Progress(PBSP) and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation.
Part of his talk focused on how they were able to curb the violence and poverty in their town by the establishment of the La Frutera Corporation during the Ramos Administration. La Frutera is a 1000 hectare banana farm that grows and exports Cavendish banana. The unique thing about that corporate farm is that it employs about 2000 ex-members of the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and a token NPA (New People’s Army) cadre. During the height of the Government and MILF war during the Estrada administration, the MILF were asking the workers to come back to their fold and help fight against the government onslaught. It was said that none of the workers left the farm to fight because they were already contented with what they had. Stable income and the means to provide for their family.
It was mentioned that members of the US government once invited him for a consultation on how to fight the terrorist threat against them. His solution to them didn’t involve a 400 page dissertation, complex quadratic equations, nor new tactics to be employed by their Homeland Defense. It was simple and straightforward: help fight poverty.
In a way it was like saying: instead of investing in bombs and ammunition to devastate a known terrorist incubator, invest instead in helping to uplift the livelihood of the people who are being recruited to cause harm against your country. The reason why young people are encouraged to pick up a gun instead of a pen is because of the lack of opportunities for them to provide the most basic of needs to their families. However it must be pointed out that dole outs aren’t the solution as they last only as long as the money is there, giving a person the means to provide for himself and his family is what is really needed.
Of course if it were me saying this, the panel would probably scoff and laugh heartily, but taken from Datu Toto Paglas and his La Frutera experience it doesn’t get any more credible than that.
Up close he is a very approachable and down-to-earth fellow with a hearty laugh. Of course one can’t but help notice how he towers over everybody else with his tall physique. Physically and figuratively by his accomplishments, he is indeed a giant amongst men.
On a side note, the next time he gets invited for consultation, maybe we can ask Datu Toto Paglas to slip in a word or two? Stating that the forgiveness of a portion of the Philippine Debt could also help fight terrorism *snicker*
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Tags: Datu Toto Paglas, La Frutera, Mindanao, Poverty & Terrorism
You said, “instead of investing in bombs and ammunition to devastate a known terrorist incubator, invest instead in helping to uplift the livelihood of the people who are being recruited to cause harm against your country.” Sobrang agree ako dyan, I think its not always about ideology or religion, its really more about survival esp sa Phil context.Hope there are more people like him!
Me too Gypsy