(SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has affirmed that the laying down of arms by “our Moro brothers” is a testament to their unreserved and honest participation in the talks to find lasting peace in Mindanao.
“Panawagan ko po ay suklian naman natin ang pagtitiwalang ipinakita nila (Moro Islamic Liberation Front – MILF) sa atin. Sikapin nating umabot sa puntong masasabi nating: Talagang binigay natin ang lahat ng pagkakataon upang mabago nila ang kanilang buhay at maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap,” he said during the turnover of 75 firearms belonging to the MILF and the decommissioning of 145 combatants under the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, held at the Old Capitol, in Simuay here Tuesday.
The President however deemed as unfortunate some lawmakers’ move to halt the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which was crafted by the government and the MILF to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao that has left more than 100,000 people dead and has stalled economic development in the region.
“Nakakalungkot nga po na ang gustong isagot ng ilan sa ating mambabatas sa imbitasyong ito ay itigil ang BBL. Imbis na itanong: ‘Paano ko ba mapapabuti pa ang BBL para matugunan ang hinaing ng mga kababayan natin?’ tila pinag-iisipan pa ng iba ay ‘Paano ko ba ito pipigilan o haharangin?’,” he said.
He noted that he has personally invested his time and effort to ensure that the BBL is passed, recalling that he had one meeting with members of Congress, where it took them until the following morning to discuss and resolve the concerns of legislators, in an effort to come up with a refined version of the law.
“Daang libo na ang napinsala at namatay, at di na mabilang ang nawalan ng tirahan at nasira ang komunidad, dahil sa apat na dekadang hidwaan. Kung di ka pa papanig sa kapayapaan, ilan pa ang mamamatayan ng mahal nila sa buhay? Ilang pamayanan pa ang maiipit sa putukan at kawalang seguridad? Ilan ang naghihirap na lalo pang maghihirap? Gaano pa katagal bago kumatok sa sarili mong pintuan ang kaguluhan at madamay ang sarili mong mag-anak?” he said.
The President emphasized that the country has a debt to “our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro”.
“May pagkakataon tayo ngayon upang itama ang naratibo ng pagdurusang sama-sama nating kinaharap. Panahon na po natin ito. Ito ang ipinaglaban ng mga nasawi nating kababayan. Ipakita natin sa mga nag-alay ng kanilang buhay, sa ating mga kababayan, at sa buong mundo: Magkakaiba man ang ating pinanggalingan at paniniwala, dahil pinagbubuklod tayo ng tiwala at pagmamalasakit sa isa’t isa, walang hamong hindi natin kayang lampasan bilang isang bansa,” he said.
Present during the ceremony were Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman, Maguindanao Governor Ismael Mangudadatu, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Central Committee Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and Archbishop Orlando Beltran Quevedo. (PND)
