Gibo starts off this question by nearly upending my reason for picking him (that he doesn’t believe in simple solutions) and saying that there is one simple thing that is necessary to solve the problem of mindanao : peace and order. He asks the crowd, how can Mindanao expect progress when people in neighborhoods are armed and resolve their differences by shooting at each other? He also seems to take issue with a top-down solution to Mindanao (perhaps pointing out the failures of the ARMM government so far) and criticizes politicians who paint the picture that the problems in Mindanao are a Muslim versus Christian problem. In his view every person (Christian, muslim, etc) from Mindanao is part of the problem but they can also be part of the solution by choosing to resolve their differences in a democratic manner instead of shooting at each other.
Gibo admits this is difficult, and that the government’s job in this matter is to ensure that there is stability in the region in order to allow the people of Mindanao the freedom to discuss and solve their problems. His solution is to create an environment in which Mindanaoans can help themselves. He understands that it is a long term process, and that quick fix solutions are not the answer. This is where he redeems himself a bit, because ultimately his solution really isn’t so simple as to send the entire army out to crush the abu sayyaf. He realizes that quick fix solutions like that never really solve anything. As a case in point, he cites that there is peace and order in Maguindanao right now because a thousand policemen and 8 battalions of troops are there in order to keep the peace, but when another crisis arises somewhere in the country these troops will be pulled out and the cycle will start over once again.
To reiterate, his solution for Mindanao is a) create an environment of peace and order in Mindanao, so that b) people in Mindanao can sort out their problems. What this reveals to me is a man that not only respects the rights of every human being to live in an environment of peace and order, but one who also respects the people’s capability to solve their own problems. He is not a tyrant that will impose his (either benevolent or malicious) will on the people of Mindanao, he recognizes them as his equals, and wants to give them a chance to prove themselves. I respect this because it is so easy to be disappointed in people, and to want to take things into your own hands. I “lead” a small organization myself, and I must admit there are times when I am disappointed with the people I work with, and I have to fight the urge to just do things myself and not entrust them to people. I’d like to think that perhaps sometimes he hates people too, and he silently curses under his breath at the morons he has to deal with everyday. But the patriot in him still believes that the people are the key to the problem so it’s his job to enable them as best as he can.
