Energy Issues as an Influence Factor in the Moro Conflict in Southern Philippines
Abstract
This study discusses the crucial role of energy security factors in the protracted conflict between the Moro Muslim groups and the Philippine government. The primary reason for conducting this research is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the strategic dimension of natural resources, particularly energy, which is often overlooked in conflict analyses that focus on political, social, religious, and cultural aspects. This research employs energy security theory as an analytical lens to examine how issues such as land grabbing and competition for control over natural resources in Mindanao contribute to the escalation or potential resolution of the conflict. Furthermore, this study identifies specific energy-related factors that exacerbate tensions, including resource competition, the economic impact of the conflict on the energy sector, and the role of international actors. Utilizing a qualitative approach and descriptive analysis methods through case studies and secondary data from various credible sources such as the official websites of BARMM, PIDS, and PSA, this research is expected to make a significant contribution to the field of International Relations by highlighting the interconnectedness between energy security and armed conflict. The findings of this study have the potential to enrich the theoretical understanding of how energy dynamics shape the conflict landscape and inform the development of more effective strategies for achieving energy stability and peace in conflict-affected regions.
Keywords: energy, Mindanao, Moro conflict, Philippines Government
References
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MS, A. R., Putranti, I. R., & Pertiwi, S. P. (2017). Kebijakan Pemerintah Filipina dalam Menangani Ancaman Gerakan Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Journal of International Relations Diponegoro, 3(4), 66-73.
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Paredes, O. (2022). Making Mindanao: Place Making and People in the Southern Philippines. South East Asia Research, 30(1), 3-8.
Pascual, J. E. (2010). Energy Security: Economics, Politics, Strategies, and Implication. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.
Permono, P. (2013). Abu Sayyaf Group di Filipina Selatan setelah Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Jurnal Global Strategis, 13(2), 109-122.
Prasetyowati, E. D. (2017, 30 October). “Sebab-Sebab Berlanjutnya konflik Antara Masyarakat Muslim di Wilayah Flipina Selatan Dengan Pemerintah Filipina.” Thesis. Jember: University of Jember. Accessed from https://repository.unej.ac.id/handle/123456789/82904.
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SA, S. (2008). Umat Islam di Filipina Selatan: Sejarah, Perjuangan dan Rekonsiliasi. ISLAMICA, 3(1), 54-75.
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Sholikin, A. (2020). Teori Kutukan Sumber Daya Alam (Resource Curse) dalam Perspektif Ilmu Politik. Madani Jurnal Politik Dan Sosial Kemasyarakatan, 12(1), 24 - 40.
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Wadi, J. (2010). Islam and Philipppine Society The Writings of Cesar Adib Majul. Asian Studies, 46(1), ii-viii.
Wahyudi. (2021). Teori Konflik dan Penerapannya Pada llmu-Ilmu Sosial. Malang: Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.
Walag, A. M. P., Canencia, O. P., & Fiedler, B. A. (2018). Water Quality Mindanao Island of the Philippines. In B. A. Fiedler (Ed.), Translating National Policy to Improve Environment Conditions Impacting Public Healt Through Community Planning (pp. 219-253). Cham: Springer.
Agaton, C. J. V., Cruz, M. J. P., Gregorio, J. V. D., Javier, M. R., Monteron, N. A. U., Ortiguerra, R. A. C., & Parcio, X. N. M. (2022). Power Up Plants: Energizing Philippines Renewable Energy Sources. Jurnal Asia Pacific Studies, 6(1), 47-66.
Allenby, R. B. (2000). Environmental Security: Concept and Implementation. International Political Science Review, 21(1), 5-21.
Ayni, N. (2021). Masalah Moro: Sebuah Kajian Perkembangan Kasus Konflik Internal Moro Hingga Kancah Internasional (1946-2019). Bakaba: Jurnal Sejarah Kebudayaan dan Kependidikan, 9(1), 8-14.
Asian Development Bank. (2009). Poverty in the Philippines: Causes, Constraints, and Opportunities. Mandaluyong City, Phillippines: Asian Development Bank.
Baddiri, E. (2007, April). “Personal Reflections on the Bangsamoro Struggle.” Beyond Intractability. Accessed from https://www.beyondintractability.org/reflection/baddiri-personal.
Borlaza, G. C. & Hernandez, C. G. (2025, 23 May). “The period of U.S. influence.” Britannica. Accessed from https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/The-period-of-U-S-influence.
Crisis Group. (2023, 1 May). “Southern Philippines: Making Peace Stick in the Bangsamoro.” Accessed from https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/philippines/331-southern-philippines-making-peace-stick-bangsamoro.
Elbassoussy, A. (2019). European Energy Security Dillema: Major Challenge and Confrontation Strategies. Review of Economics and Political Science, 4(4), 321-343.
Fachrie, M (2018). The Influence of China in Environmental Security and Peace In Mongolia. Insignia Journal of Internasional Relation, 5(1), 46-52.
Fisher, S. (2000). Working with Conflict: Skill and Strategies for Action. London: Zed Books Ltd.
Franco, J. (2016). The Phiippines: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front - A Pragmatic Power Structure. In Impunity: Countering Illicit Power in War and Transition (pp. 170-189). Washington D.C.: National Defense University Press.
Galtung, J. (1996). Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development, and Civilization. California: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Gatmaytan, A. B. (2015). Land Titling and Class Relations Among the Maguindanaos of Ligasawan Marsh: Implication for Peace and Development. Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies, 30(2)–31(1), 49–72.
Guiamel, I. A. & Lee, H. S. (2020). Potential hydropower estimation for the Mindanao River Basin in the Philippines based on watershed modelling using the soil and water assessment tool, Energy Reports. Elsevier, 6, 1010-1028.
Gutierrez, E. & Borras, S. (2004). The Moro Conflict: Landlessness and Misdirested State Policies. Washington, DC: East-West Center Washington.
Hasanah, P. H. (2017). Studi Eksplanatif Penyebab Gerakan Separatis Minoritas Muslim Moro di Filipina. Journal of Integrative International Relations, 3(2), 67-80.
Idi, A. (2018). Konflik Etno-Religius di Asia Tenggara. Yogyakarta: LKiS.
Indrawan, J. & Tania, A. T. (2022). Analisis Konflik Ambon Menggunakan Penahapan Konflik Simon Fisher. Jurnal Kolaborasi Resolusi Konflik, 4(1), 12-26.
Indrawan, R. M. (2016). Resolusi Konflik Bagi Etnis Moro di Filipina. Jurnal International & Diplomacy Universitas Satya Negara Indonesia, 2(1), 117–132.
Izzuddin, A., Indrakorniawan, R., & Stiarso, H. A. (2022). Analisis Upaya Penyelesaian Konflik Rusia-Ukraina Tahun 2022. Jurnal Pena Wimaya, 2(2), 1-19.
JICA. (2016). Comprehensive Capacity Development Project for the Bangsamoro: Development Plan for the Bangsamoro Final Report. Accessed from https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12253639_01.pdf.
Kementerian ESDM RI. (2020, 27 February). “27% Produksi Listrik Filipina Berasal Dari Panas Bumi.” Accessed from https://www.esdm.go.id/id/media-center/arsip-berita/27-produksi-listrik-filipina-berasal-dari-panas-bumi.
Latif, I. R., Mutiarin, D., and Nurmandi, A. (2020). The Quality of Peace in Post-Conflict Situation: A Comparative Study Between Armed Conflicts in Aceh and Bangsamoro. Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional, 22(2), 221-243.
Lumawag, R. J. F. (2021). A Long Road for Renewable Energy in Mindanao. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Accessed from https://www-pids-gov-ph.translate.goog/details/a-long-road-for-renewable-energy-in-mindanao?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=id&_x_tr_hl=id&_x_tr_pto=sc.
Manalang, A. (2024, 8 January). “After a 7.4 Magnitude Esrthquake Rattled the Philippines, We Awoke to the Fact That We Are Not Ready for The Big One.” Earth.org. Accessed from https://earth.org/philippines-not-ready-for-the-big-earthquake/.
Majul, C. A. (1988). Islam di Filipina. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Masroni, S. (2023, 24 January). “Profil Haji Murad Ibrahim, Ketua Menteri Daerah Otonomi Bangsamoro di Muslim Mindanao.” Serambi News. Accessed from https://aceh.tribunnews.com/2023/01/24/profil-haji-murad-ibrahim-ketua-menteri-daerah-otonomi-bangsamoro-di-muslim-mindanao.
McDoom, O. S. (2019). Inequality, ethnicity, and status in a ranked society: Intermarriage in Mindanao, the Philippines. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility. Accessed from https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/90720/1/McDoom_Inequality-ethnicity-and-status.pdf.
Moner, Y. P., Ali, S. A. A., & Manala-O, S.. (2024). Attitude of stakeholder towards the organic law for the Bangsamoro autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), 1-16.
MS, A. R., Putranti, I. R., & Pertiwi, S. P. (2017). Kebijakan Pemerintah Filipina dalam Menangani Ancaman Gerakan Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Journal of International Relations Diponegoro, 3(4), 66-73.
Nadaek, K. & Atmadji, A. (1986). Revolusi Damai: Rekaman Kemelut Filipina. Jakarta: Pustaka Sinar Harapan.
Paredes, O. (2022). Making Mindanao: Place Making and People in the Southern Philippines. South East Asia Research, 30(1), 3-8.
Pascual, J. E. (2010). Energy Security: Economics, Politics, Strategies, and Implication. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.
Permono, P. (2013). Abu Sayyaf Group di Filipina Selatan setelah Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Jurnal Global Strategis, 13(2), 109-122.
Prasetyowati, E. D. (2017, 30 October). “Sebab-Sebab Berlanjutnya konflik Antara Masyarakat Muslim di Wilayah Flipina Selatan Dengan Pemerintah Filipina.” Thesis. Jember: University of Jember. Accessed from https://repository.unej.ac.id/handle/123456789/82904.
Refworld. (2023, 31 December). Assessment for Moros in the Philippines. Accessed from: https://www.refworld.org/docid/469f3ac21e.html.
Ross, M. L. (2014). What Have We Learn about the Resources Curse? Accessed from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2342668.
SA, S. (2008). Umat Islam di Filipina Selatan: Sejarah, Perjuangan dan Rekonsiliasi. ISLAMICA, 3(1), 54-75.
Sagena, U. W. & Moorthy, R. (2012). Keamanan Energi dan Hubungan Kerja Sama Cina-Jepang. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, 16(2), 136-152.
Sagena, U. W. (2013). Memahami Keamanan Tradisional dan Non-Tradisional di Selat Malaka: Isu-Isu dan Interaksi Antar Aktor. Jurnal Interdependence Hubungan Internasional, 1(1), 72-90.
Sarmiento, B. S. (2021, 28 October). “Philippine wetland oil richer untouchable by war now up for grabs in peacetime.” Mongabay. Accessed from https://news.mongabay.com/2021/10/philippine-wetland-oil-riches-untouched-by-war-now-up-for-grabs-in-peacetime/.
Septia, R. D, Dewi, Y. P., Febriansyah, R., Ismail, I., & Mindani, M. (2024). Problematika Kehidupan Muslim Minoritas di Asia Tenggara (Muslim Melayu Pattani, Muslim Moro, dan Muslim Rohingya). GHAITSA: Islamic Education Journal, 5(1), 60-69.
Sholikin, A. (2020). Teori Kutukan Sumber Daya Alam (Resource Curse) dalam Perspektif Ilmu Politik. Madani Jurnal Politik Dan Sosial Kemasyarakatan, 12(1), 24 - 40.
UNFPA. (2019). “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Muslim in Mindanao.” Accessed from https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/topics/bangsamoro-autonomous-region-muslim-mindanao-barmm?.
Wadi, J. (2010). Islam and Philipppine Society The Writings of Cesar Adib Majul. Asian Studies, 46(1), ii-viii.
Wahyudi. (2021). Teori Konflik dan Penerapannya Pada llmu-Ilmu Sosial. Malang: Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.
Walag, A. M. P., Canencia, O. P., & Fiedler, B. A. (2018). Water Quality Mindanao Island of the Philippines. In B. A. Fiedler (Ed.), Translating National Policy to Improve Environment Conditions Impacting Public Healt Through Community Planning (pp. 219-253). Cham: Springer.
Published
2025-05-31
How to Cite
MUSDALIFAH, Musdalifah; SAGENA, Uni W..
Energy Issues as an Influence Factor in the Moro Conflict in Southern Philippines.
Insignia: Journal of International Relations, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 1, p. 1-15, may 2025.
ISSN 2597-9868.
Available at: <https://jos.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/insignia/article/view/14775>. Date accessed: 02 june 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2025.12.1.14775.
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Articles
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