From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5): Indigenous peoples support GPH-MILF quest for Mindanao peace
Non-Muslim communities in southernPhilippines have expressed optimism the soon to be completed government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would bring genuine peace in Mindanao , tribal leaders said Wednesday.
Two tribal leaders, Bae Magdalena Suhat Herbilla, chair of the Council of Elders of the Federation of Matigsalog-Manobo Tribal Council (FEMMATRIC) and Habbas Camendan, deputy chair of Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), in separate statements that their groups are also supportive of Malacanang's peace initiative in southernPhilippines
The two are acknowledged tribal and traditional leaders of the indigenous peoples inMindanao .
Herbilla said the people ofMindanao , especially the "lumads" desire peace.
With about 30,000 members occupying IP ancestral lands in the towns ofNorth Cotabato and Maguindanao, the group said they are confident the final peace deal will bring economic and cultural development in their communities.
"Any peace deal that bring socio-economic, political and ancestral rights of highland non-Moro communities will have our support," Herbilla said.
Camendan, on the other hand, believed that the peace deal will erase the impression and misconception that they will loose their ancestral lands once the new political Bangsamoro government is established inMindanao .
He also denied reports that the IPs will take up arms once the final peace deal is signed because they will form part of it and that they are among the beneficiaries the agreement would bring toMindanao .
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=613019
Non-Muslim communities in southern
Two tribal leaders, Bae Magdalena Suhat Herbilla, chair of the Council of Elders of the Federation of Matigsalog-Manobo Tribal Council (FEMMATRIC) and Habbas Camendan, deputy chair of Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), in separate statements that their groups are also supportive of Malacanang's peace initiative in southern
The two are acknowledged tribal and traditional leaders of the indigenous peoples in
Herbilla said the people of
With about 30,000 members occupying IP ancestral lands in the towns of
"Any peace deal that bring socio-economic, political and ancestral rights of highland non-Moro communities will have our support," Herbilla said.
Camendan, on the other hand, believed that the peace deal will erase the impression and misconception that they will loose their ancestral lands once the new political Bangsamoro government is established in
He also denied reports that the IPs will take up arms once the final peace deal is signed because they will form part of it and that they are among the beneficiaries the agreement would bring to
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=613019