MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 4, 2014) – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group has praised the mayor of a small town for supporting the peace process in the restive region of Mindanao.
The MILF praised Mayor Zahara Upam Ampatuan, of Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, for her peace advocacy and cited her efforts to bring peace not only in the province, but the region as well.
The rebel group, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, surprised the mayor with two awards that coincided with the 18th anniversary of the town. The awards were handed to the mayor by Ustadz Abdulwahid Tundok, a senior MILF leader who is now campaigning for peace in Mindanao.
The awarding was also witnessed by military officials invited to the event led by 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz and 1st Mechanized Brigade commander Col. Edgar Gonzales, the provincial police commander Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson, and soldiers and rebels, and representative of different sectors in the province.
Ustadz Tundok has spoken nothing, but praises for the mayor, also a known philanthropist in Maguindanao.
“In honoring the extraordinary efforts and assistance as a local government chief executive and public servant rendered for the greater success of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Process, further bolstered with the signing of the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro at Malacanang Palace on October 15, 2012 and hearing the commitment and resolve that prove beneficial in sustaining the support and ownership to the peace process and the facilitation of understanding and cooperation amongst peoples regardless of race and religion geared at winning the peace for the country and the Bangsamoro aspirations justice, peace, prosperity, self-governance and right to self-determination for a better future of our children and generations to come,” Mohagher Iqbal, MILF vice chairman and chief peace negotiator, said in his Tribute of Commendation to the politician.
The MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities also awarded Mayor Upam Ampatuan with a plaque for her support to the cease-fire accord between the government and the rebel group.
“For her invaluable and unwavering cooperation and support to the duties and functions of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities in partnership with the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team composed of the governments of Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, Indonesia, and European Union in the implementation and monitoring of the GPH-MILF agreements on general cessation of hostilities, socio-economic reconstruction, civilian protection and humanitarian rehabilitation and development, thus sustaining the goodwill, confidence-building measures and momentum for the success of the GPH-MILF Peace Process,” said Abbas Salung, the chairman of the MILF CCCH, in a Plaque of Recognition, he gave to Mayor Upam Ampatuan.
The mayor said she appreciated the awards and largely credited the people in Shariff Aguak town for the praises she received from the MILF, saying without the support of her constituents it would be impossible to promote peace in the town and even in the Muslim region.
“Ang mga awards na ibinigay sa akin ay awards na rin ng bawat isang mamamayan dito sa Shariff Aguak dahil ako ay instrumento lamang ng lahat na mga nagnanais ng kapayapaan hindi lamang dito sa aming bayan at lalawigan ng Maguindanao, kundi ng buong bansa,” Mayor Upam Ampatuan told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga mamamayan at ang ibat-ibang sektor sa Shariff Aguak at Maguindanao, at sa ARMM sa kabuuan dahil sa kanilang suporta sa peace process ng ating pamahalaan sa Mindanao. Nangako po tayo na lalong natin itataguyod at palalakasin ang suporta sa peace process at sa Bangsamoro political entity na isinusulong ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino,” she said. (Mark Navales)
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