Philippines, the most Catholic country in Asia.

But we cannot forget that Muslims came here a century before the Spaniards conquered the Philippines. In the 15th century, the southern islands (Mindanao, Basilan, Jolo and Sulu) were controlled by sultanates. In recent years, the conflict has been present on these islands.

How far should we go in order to understand this conflict?

It has been a historic process, first the Spanish colonization and then the United States colonization. The Americans made inadequate territorial organization policies, selling land to settlers and foreign companies. Later, the governments of the Philippines continued this policy. Muslims have historically felt themselves marginalized in the lands that belonged to them, that discrimination has led them to poverty and the answer has been to take arms.

The last 40 years have been particularly hard.

In 1970, the National Front for the Liberation of the Moors (MFN) was created in southern Mindanao, where Muslims are the majority. In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos's government launched martial law, and it was the years of dictatorship. The State exerted force against the Muslims and the Muslims responded with arms. A civil war broke out for four years, although the conflict has persisted to this day.

And you have just arrived on the island of Basila.

I arrived in Castile in 1972 and it was a paradise for me. I was impressed by the natural resources there, because Basilan is an island of oil, gas, minerals and very fertile land.

The situation, however, in paradise had become completely untenable.

The war broke out from morning to night and we were not prepared for a new situation. Murders, kidnappings, divided civil society, displaced war... We kept working, but I was the director of Claret School, I set up the night classes, we started working with the displaced wars. Until the situation became unsustainable. My friends were kidnapped and killed, I was the last priest to leave the island of Basel.

It could be a movie.

It could be, I have a thousand stories, Marcos's government accused me of belonging to the armed group of Moors because I knew the leader. Later, I was accused of belonging to the communist group. I, on the other hand, was working for those who suffered from poverty and injustice.

In the meantime, you did a six-year stop.

But I went back to the Philippines and the situation got very complicated.

What?

Armed groups multiplied. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines called for an independent State in the south of the country. In 1991, the armed group Abu Sayyaf was founded, the most radical of the most radical groups. In addition, many small guerrillas emerged in Basel. Violence was terrible.

Abu Sayyaf says. The leader was very close to you, right?

Leader Khadaffy Janjalani was my disciple on the island of Basilan. He had the opportunity to study at an Islamic university, and from there he came with very radical ideas. Many members of Abu Sayyaf had the same chance, some fought in Afghanistan. Kidnappings were the way to get the money. Several actions were carried out and many deaths occurred. The United States intervened in the fight against this Islamic group, apparently related to Al Qaeda. Fortunately, no action has been taken in recent years.

Will you explain this conflict to me in figures?

40 years of war, 120,000 deaths, two million displaced persons of war, 15,000 guerrillas who are forced to abandon weapons and their war wounds are incalculable.

In 1996 the MNF signed a peace agreement.

Following this agreement, RAMM (Autonomous Territory of Muslim Mindanao) was born, with Governor Nur Misauri, leader of the MNF. MILF did not at any time approve this Agreement.

16 years later, the MILF has managed to sign a Peace Agreement with President Cory Aquino. What has happened now to sign the peace agreement?

Time has shown that RAMM has not worked. The agreement that has just been signed states that the status quo cannot be accepted. The living conditions of Muslims remain the same, islands of great natural wealth, but they remain the poorest regions of the Philippines.

How will the situation change?

A referendum will be held on the definition of the territory of Bangasamoro (the people of the Moors) where Muslims are the majority. In this agreement, the State will give more powers to the new territory to collect and impose taxes, as well as to manage natural resources.

They ask to apply the sharia.

The agreement must define to whom and to what extent the sharia applies. I am convinced that it will not be applied as in an Islamic state, but that the rights of those who are not Muslims will be respected.

Will it be the last peace agreement?

The Aquino government is populist and I agree. We have suffered the longest conflict in Southeast Asia tico.Sin but, peace is not achieved through agreements, peace is in another area.

What is that field?

Peace will not exist until social inequalities, injustice and people suffering from poverty maintain a dignified life, regardless of individual beliefs, be they Muslim or Christian.

What does the Church say?

It has always brought conflict to the religious ground, and I am very critical of that. The Church has defended the truth of God, the Islamic leaders have defended that of Allah and the Xextra mutual has not solved anything.

You are acting as a bridge in the coexistence between Muslims and Christians: from the pulpit you send messages in favor of understanding, in Chabacan and English, you are the founder of an association that brings together leaders of different religions…

My work has been linked to the well-being of civil society. The real work is that of the people who believe in peace and coexistence. Many of those in power don't like my work, that's their problem, I'm very comfortable with what I do.