Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Feb 7): Call for Statesmanship
During the height of the deliberation of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA), there were those who opposed it out of conviction that it did not redound to the best interests of this country.
During the height of the deliberation of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA), there were those who opposed it out of conviction that it did not redound to the best interests of this country.
Frankly, while we do not appreciate much the actuation of those who opposed it, for whatever reasons, because it paved the way for war to visit us once again, but that was more than five years ago already. To the MILF, the rejection of the MOA-AD by the Supreme Court as “unconstitutional” is just part of history that we have to draw lessons from time to time in our continuing search for peace and solution to the Bangsamoro Question in Mindanao. Today and the future are more important.
It is on this frame that we appeal to leaders of government, academe, church, business, and civil society organizations to close together so that the MOA-AD debacle will not happen anymore. So much good will, time, and efforts have been invested by all of us that warranted the support of the United Nations, the United States, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, and Japan. (The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is yet to issue a statement of support for the signing of the last Annex of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)). We make sure that this time we will not fail, God willing!
Out of respect, we will not mention the names, except one, of those who opposed the MOA-AD in 2008. The truth is that currently we have started to reach out to them and convey the message that it is good for all and this country that peace shall dwell amongst us. Most if not all of them whom we talked to are responding very well; in fact, they are offering the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) valuable advices on how the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) gets the support of the people.
Indeed, it is time leaders of men in this country show statesmanship in the resolution of the armed conflict in Mindanao. The issue of peace is not a partisan discourse. Everybody has to support it, because when there is real peace everybody benefits.
On its part, the MILF is already showing its ultimate sacrifice in order to achieve peace in our midst. It agrees to undertake graduated decommissioning of its firearms (and combatants). While there is no element of surrender in the act and there are no firearms turned over to the “enemy” but to a third party body composed of three foreign experts and four local experts, but once the MILF decommissions its firearms, they are gone forever.
It is on this premise that we also appeal to former mayor and now congressman Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City to support the peace process between the GPH and the MILF. He has everything to gain in supporting it and everything to lose in opposing it. He is the only one virtually speaking of war when everybody speaks of peace.
Congressman Lobregat, please show that you are also for peace and leader of all men, irrespective of religion, tribes, and station in life. Zamboanga City is for all of us!
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/800-call-for-statesmanship
It is on this frame that we appeal to leaders of government, academe, church, business, and civil society organizations to close together so that the MOA-AD debacle will not happen anymore. So much good will, time, and efforts have been invested by all of us that warranted the support of the United Nations, the United States, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, and Japan. (The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is yet to issue a statement of support for the signing of the last Annex of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)). We make sure that this time we will not fail, God willing!
Out of respect, we will not mention the names, except one, of those who opposed the MOA-AD in 2008. The truth is that currently we have started to reach out to them and convey the message that it is good for all and this country that peace shall dwell amongst us. Most if not all of them whom we talked to are responding very well; in fact, they are offering the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) valuable advices on how the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) gets the support of the people.
Indeed, it is time leaders of men in this country show statesmanship in the resolution of the armed conflict in Mindanao. The issue of peace is not a partisan discourse. Everybody has to support it, because when there is real peace everybody benefits.
On its part, the MILF is already showing its ultimate sacrifice in order to achieve peace in our midst. It agrees to undertake graduated decommissioning of its firearms (and combatants). While there is no element of surrender in the act and there are no firearms turned over to the “enemy” but to a third party body composed of three foreign experts and four local experts, but once the MILF decommissions its firearms, they are gone forever.
It is on this premise that we also appeal to former mayor and now congressman Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City to support the peace process between the GPH and the MILF. He has everything to gain in supporting it and everything to lose in opposing it. He is the only one virtually speaking of war when everybody speaks of peace.
Congressman Lobregat, please show that you are also for peace and leader of all men, irrespective of religion, tribes, and station in life. Zamboanga City is for all of us!
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/800-call-for-statesmanship